The Demon Lover

Where have you been my long lost love
This seven long years and more ?
I'm come to seek my former vows
You granted me before.

I might have married a king's daughter
Far far beyond the sea
But I've refused the crowns of gold
All for the love of thee.

If you might have married the king's daughter
Yourself you have to blame
For I am married to a ship's carpenter
And to him I have a son.

O what have you to keep me with
If with you I should go
If I'd forsake my dear husband
And my young son also ?

I have seven ships upon the sea
The eighth brought me to land
With four and twenty mariners
And music on every hand.

She's taken up her little young son
And kissed him cheek and chin
O fare you well my own young son
For I'll never see you again.

She set her foot upon the ship
No mariners could she behold
But the sails were of the shining silk
And the masts of beaten gold.

They had not sailed a mile away
Never a mile but one
When she began to weep and mourn
And to think on her young son.

O hold your tongue my dearest dear
Let all your mourning be
I'll show you where the white lilies grow
On the banks of Italy.

They had not sailed a league a league
A league but barely three
Till altered grew his countenance
And gurly grew the sea.

O hold your tongue my dearest dear
Let all your mourning be
I'll show you where the white fishes swim
On the bottom of the sea.

He struck the topmast with his hand
The foremast with his knee
And he brake that gallant ship in twain
And sank her in the sea.