The Wife Of Usher's Well Lyrics

There lived a wife at Usher's Well

And a wealthy wife was she

She had three stout and stalwart sons

And she sent them over the sea

They hadn't been but a week from her

A week but barely one

When word came to the carline wife


That her three sons were gone

They hadn't been, not a week from her

A week but barely three

When word came out to the carline wife


That her sons she'd never see

I wish the wind would never cease

Nor fishes in the flood

Till my three sons come home to me

In earthly flesh and blood

It fell about the Martinmas

When nights are long and mirk

The carline wife's three sons came home

And their hats were on the birch

It neither grew in syke nor ditch

Nor yet in any sleugh

But at the gates of Paradise

That birch grew fair enough

Blow up the fire, my maidens fair

Bring water from the well

For all at my house, shall feast this night

Since my three sons are well

Make them a bed, make them a bed


We'll made it large and wide


She's taken all her mantle about

And she sat down down by their side

Up crew the rooster, The red rooster


And up then crew the gray


The eldest to the youngest said,
It's time we were away

The cock he had not craw'd but once,
And he clapp'd his wings at her

The youngest to the eldest said,
Brother, we must away

The cock doth craw, the day doth dawn

The channerin worm doth chide

If we be missed or out of place

A sore pain will bide

Fare thee well mother dear

Fare thee well to barn and byre

Fare thee well you bonny lass


That kindles my mother's fire

Fare thee well

Oh Fare thee well

Fare thee well