Willy O' Winsbury

from Shallow Graves by The Maledictions

/

about

Traditional. Arrangement by Kevin Orton (BMI). Copyright 2019 Kevin Orton. All rights reserved.

lyrics

O the king has been a prisoner
A prisoner long in Spain
And Willy o' the Winsbury
Has laid long with his daughter at home

"What ails you, what ails you my daughter Anne
That ye look so pale and wan?
O have ye had the sore sickness
Or been sleeping with a man?"

"No I have not had the sore sickness
Nor been sleeping with a man
But it is for you to see my father dear
For biding so long in Spain"

"Cast off, cast off your berry brown gown
Stand naked upon the stone
That I may know you by your shape
If you be a maiden or none"

And she cast off her berry brown gown
And stood naked upon the stone
And her smile was sly and haunches round
An her skin was pale and wan

"Was it with a lord or duke or knight
Or a man of birth and fame?
Or was it with one of my serving men
Come lately back from Spain?"

"No, it wasn't with a lord or duke or knight
Or a man of birth and fame
But it was with Willy o' Winsbury
I could bide no longer alone"

And the king he called his merry men all
But thirty and by three
Saying, "Fetch me this Willy o' Winsbury
For hanged he shall be"

When Willy came the king before
He was clad all in the red silk
And his hair was like the golden strands
And his skin was white as the milk

"It is no wonder," said the king
"That my daughter's love ye did win
For if I was a woman as I'm a man
My bedfellow you would have been

O will you marry my daughter Anne
Or hang by my right hand?
O will you marry my daughter Anne
And I'll make you the lord of my land"

"Why yes, I'll marry your daughter Anne
By the truth of my right hand
Why yes, I'll marry your daughter Anne
But I'll not be the lord of your land"

And he mounted her on a mild white steed
And himself on a dapple grey
And he made her the lady of all the land
As she could ride on a warm summer's day

credits

from Shallow Graves, released October 1, 2019
Kevin Orton- guitar, vocals
Andre Fratto- atmospherics

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The Maledictions image

The Maledictions New York, New York

The Maledictions' sound has been called "Gothic Americana", "Country Noir" and "Nick Cave meets Johhny Cash". "It's all just Folk Music," says band leader, Kevin Orton, "Maybe aggressive Folk but Folk music...I tend to write songs about people who are uninsured". After a solo album, FEMME NOIR (featuring Gordon Gano), Orton formed The Maledictions. Full discography here from albums to singles. ... more

contact / help

Contact The Maledictions

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like The Maledictions, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now