Lady Diamond

There was a king, a glorious king, a king of noble fame
And he had daughters only one, Lady Diamond was her name

He had a boy, a kitchen boy, a boy of muckle scorn
She loved him long, she loved him aye, til the grass o'ergrew the
corn

When twenty weeks were gone and past, oh, she began to greet
For her petticoat grew short before and her stays they would not
meet

It fell upon a winter's night, the king could get no rest
He came unto his daughter dear, just like a wandering ghost

He came unto his daughter dear, pulled back the curtains long
What aileth thee, my daughter dear, I fear you have gotten wrong

Oh, if I have, despise me not, for he is all my joy
I will forsake both dukes and earls and marry your kitchen boy

Oh, bring to me my merry men all by thirty and by three
Oh bring to me my kitchen boy, we'll murder him secretly

There was not a sound into the hall and ne'er a word was said
until they had him safe and sure between two featherbeds

Cut the heart from out of his breast, put it in a cup of gold
And present it to his Diamond dear, for she was both stout and
bold

They Cut the heart from out of his breast, put it in a cup of gold
And presented it to his Diamond dear, for she was both stout and
bold

Oh, come to me, my hinny, my heart, oh, come to me my joy
Oh, come to me, my hinny, my heart, my father's kitchen boy

She took the cup from out of their hands and set it at her bed
head
She washed it with tears that fell from her eyes and next morning
she was dead

Oh, where were you, my merry men all, when I gave meat and wage
That you didn't stay my cruel hand when I was in a rage?

For gone is all my heart's delight, oh, gone is all my joy
For my dear Diamond, she is dead, likewise my kitchen boy

Child #269
recorded by Jean Redpath on Philo
Frankie Armstrong on Lovely on Water
and MacColl & Seeger Blood Red Roses II
SOF