Lady Margaret she sits in her bower sewing Ma-ba and the lilly ba When she saw the knight with his horn a-blowing On the very first morning of May Oh I wish that I had that horn I hear blowing Ma-ba and the lilly ba And that young knight to sleep here on my breast On the very first morning of May. Now the lady she had these words scarce spoke Ma-ba and a lilly ba When in at her window the knight come a jumping On the very first morning of May Oh strange it is, oh strange young woman Ma-ba and the lilly ba I can scarce blow my horn since I hear you a-calling On the very first morning of May Go fetch you gold from your father’s table Deliver it unto me And the fastest horses in your father’s stable Where there sat thirty and three So he’s mounted him on the black black horse And she’s rode the dapple grey And they rode til they came to the broad sea-shore Just three hours before it was day Lie down, lie down off your horse he says And deliver it up to me For it’s six pretty maids I have drowned here And the seventh one you shall be Take off, take off all your clothes he said And deliver them unto me For they are far too fine and costly robes For to rot in the salt of the sea Lie down, lie down off your horse she said And turn your back unto me For it’s not fitting that any gentleman A naked lady should see So he’s lighted him down off his horse so high And he’s turned onto she And she’s catched around the middle so small And she’s tumbled him all down in the sea Sometimes he sank, sometimes he swam And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba Oh help, oh help me pretty mistress Or drowned I shall be Lie there lie there oh you false young man Lie there instead of me For it’s six pretty maids you have drowned there And the seventh one has drowned thee So she’s mounted her on the black black horse And she’s led the dapple grey And she rode til she came to her father’s house An hour before it was day A parrot sitting up at her window side It’s ma-ba and the lilly ba Oh where have you been my pretty mistress An hour before it is day Don’t you prattle don’t you prattle my pretty polly Don’t you tell the tales on me And your cage shall be made of the best glittering gold And your perch of the best ivory But her father sitting up at his window side On hearing the parrot he did say Oh what is the matter my pretty polly That you cry so long before day? Oh there come a cat to my window side And it’s ma-ba and the lilly ba And I was calling my pretty mistress Just to frighten that pussy cat away