Lyrics Clyde's Water - Dave Swarbrick , Martin Carthy

Willie stands in his own front door
He's clapping at his good steed
And down come his own mother
And she would have him pipe
"Give corn to my good horse now, mother
And meat to my brother John
For I am away to my darling's house
And I won't be back till morn"
"Stay alone with me, my darling
Stay alone with me
And the finest sheep in all of the flock
Your dinner, it will be"
"Oh, all your sheep and all your flocks
I value not a pin
For I am away to my darling's house
And I won't be back till morn"
"Stay alone with me, my darling
Stay alone with me
And the finest cock in all of the roost
Your supper, it will be"
"Oh, all your cocks and all your hens
I value not a pin
For I am away to my darling's house
And I won't be back till morn"
"Stay alone with me, my darling son
Stay with me
For if you leave this house this night
My curse will follow thee
And if you go to your darling's house
So sore against my will
From the deepest part of Clyde Water
My curse'll drink its fill"
Now he went up yon high, high hill
And down beyond the glen
And the roaring that was Clyde Water
Would fear five hundred men
"Oh, roaring Clyde, you roar so loud
Your stream is wondrous strong
Make me your wreck when I come back
But spare me as I come"
Now he come to his darling's house
And he rung low at the ring
"Oh, sleep you? Wake, you darling dear
Rise up and let me in"
"Oh, rise and open the door, my darling
Rise and let me in
For my boots are filled with Clyde Water
I'm shivering to my skin"
He thought it was his darling dear
Rose up to let him in
He thought it was his darling dear
But it was no such thing
It was the voice of her mother
She sounded just the same
Saying, "The bowers are filled with gentlemen
They won't be gone till morn"
"My curse be on you, false darling
And my curse be on you
I got our mother's malison
For coming here to you"
And he went up yon high, high hill
And down beyond the glen
And the roaring that was Clyde Water
Took Willie's cane from him
And he leaned from his saddle bow
To catch his cane again
And the roaring that was Clyde Water
Took Willie's hat from him
And he leaned out of the saddle bow
To catch his hat through force
And the roaring that was Clyde Water
Took Willie from his horse
His brother stood on the further bank
"Oh, fie on Willie, drown!
Turn, turn to your high horse head
And do learn how to swim"
"How can I turn to my high horse head?
How can I learn to swim?
I got our mother's malison
And it's here that I must drown"
Now the very hour that Willie sank
Into the pot so deep
His darling girl come wide awake
From out her drowsy sleep
"Oh, mother dear, I dreamed a dream
I dreamed it fierce and strong
I dreamed my darling come to the door
There was none would let him in"
"Oh, lie down, my own dear daughter
Lie you down and rest
Since your darling come to the door
It's a full half hour passed"
So nimble, nimble, she rose up
So nimble she put on
But the louder that this lady cried
The louder blew the wind
And she stepped in Clyde Water
And the water wet her feet
And sighing, says this darling girl
"This water's wondrous deep"
And she stepped in Clyde Water
And the water come to her knee
And sighing says this darling girl
"This water's deep for me"
And she stepped in Clyde Water
And the water come to her chin
From the deepest part of Clyde Water
She pulled her darling man
"Oh, you have got one curse now, Willie
See, I have another
And we will lie in Clyde Water
Like sister and like brother"