Lyrics:

Steeleye Span sing
Alison Gross


Alison Gross that lives in yon tower,
The ugliest witch in the North Country,
Has trysted me one day up to her bower
And many a fair speech she made to me.


She stroked my head and she's combed my hair,
She set me down softly on her knee,
Saying, “If you will be my lover so true
So many good things I would give to you.”


“Away, away, you ugly witch,
Go far away and let me be.
I never will be your lover so true
And wish I were out of your company.”


Chorus (after every other verse):
Alison Gross, she must be
The ugliest witch in the North Country.
Alison Gross, she must be
The ugliest witch in the North Country.


She showed me a mantle of red scarlet
With golden flowers and fringes fine,
Says, “If you will be my lover so true
This goodly gift it shall be thine.”


She showed me a shirt of the softest silk,
Well wrought with pearls about the band,
Saying, “If you will be my lover so true
This goodly gift you shall command.”


She showed me a cup of the good red gold
Well set with jewels so fair to see,
Says, “If you will be my lover so true
This goodly gift I would give to thee.”


“Away, away, you ugly witch,
Go far away and let me be.
I never would kiss your ugly mouth
For all of the gifts that you could give.”


She's turned her right and round about
And thrice she blew on a grass-green horn,
She swore by the moon and the stars up above
That she'd make me rue the day I was born.


Then out she has taken a silver wand,
She's turned her three times round and round.
She's muttered such words till my strength it did fail
And she's turned me into an ugly worm.