Lyrics:

Willie sites in his stable door
and he's combing his coal-black steed.
He's doubting on fair Margaret's love
and his heart begins to bleed
'Give corn unto me horse, mother,
and meat to my man, john,
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
before the night comes on.'

'Stay at home with me, dear Willie.
Oh stay at home with me
And the very best cock in all the roost
your own supper will be.'
'For all your cocks and all your roots I value not a pin
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
before the night comes in.'

'Well if you go to fair Margaret's bower
without the leave of me
in the deepest part of the Clyde water
then drowned you will be.'
'Oh, the good steed that I ride upon
cost me thrice thirty pounds
And I'll put trust in his swift feet
to take me safe and sound.'

He's ridden o'er yon high, high hill
and down, yon dovey den
And the rushin' in of the Clyde water
would fear five hundred men.
'Oh, roaring Clyde, you roar so loud
your streams are wondrous strong
Make me a wreck as I come back
but spare me as I'm gone.'

When he's got to fair Margaret's bower
he's turled low on the pin.
'Rise up, rise up me May Margaret,
rise up and let me in.'
'Oh, who is this at me bower door
callin' May Margaret's name?'
'Oh, it's only your first love, little William,
this night come to her home.

'Open your gates this night, oh open and let me in,
For my boots are full of the Clyde water
and I'm frozen to the skin.'
'My barns are full of corn, Willie,
and my stable's full of hay,
My bower's are full of gentlemen
and they won't remove till day.'

'Fare thee well to you May Margaret,
fare thee well and adieu,
For I have won my mother's own curse
by comin' this night to you.'
He's ridden o'er yon high, high hill
and down, yon dovey den,
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
took Willie's hat from him.

He's leaned over his saddle bow
to catch his hat again
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
took Willie's cane from him.
He's leaned him over his saddle bow
to catch his cane by force,
And the rushing in of the Clyde Water
took Willie from his horse.

The very hour this young man sank
into the part so deep
Up and awoke Miss May Margaret
out from her dreary sleep.
'Come here, come here, my mother dear,
and read to me my dream,
I dreamed my love was at our gate
and no one let him in.'

'Lie there, lie there, me May Margaret,
lie there and take your rest
For since your love was at our
gate it's but two quarters past.'
Numbly, numbly rose she up unto the water's brim
And the louder that this young girl cried,
the louder grew the wind.

The very first step that she went in,
she's up unto her feet,
And it's 'Oh and alas!' this young girl cried, 'Your
water's wondrous deep.'
Oh the very next step that she went in,
she's up unto her knees,
Cried she, 'I would go further in
if I my true lover could see.'

The very next step that she went in,
she's up unto her chin,
in the deepest part of the Clyde water
she's found sweet William in.
Saying 'You have had a cruel mother Willie
and I have had another,
And now we'll sleep in the Clyde water
like sister and like brother.'

Saying 'You have had a cruel mother Willie
and I have had another,
And now we'll sleep in the Clyde water
like sister and like brother.'