Lord Bateman

Lord Bateman was a noble lord He thought himself of a high degree He could not rest nor be contented 'Til he had sailed the old salt sea Oh, he sailed east and he sailed to the westward He sailed all over to the Turkish shore There he got caught and put in prison Never to be released anymore There grew a tree inside of this prison There grew a tree both broad and high And there they took and bound him prisoner 'Til he grew weak and like to die Now the Turk he had one only daughter And she was fair as she could be She stole the keys to her father's prison And declared Lord Bateman she'd set free She took him down to the deepest cellar She gave him a drink of the strongest wine She threw her loving little arms around him Crying oh, Lord Bateman if you were mine They made a vow, they made a promise For seven long years they made to stand He swore he'd marry no other woman She vowed she'd marry no other man Well seven long years has rolled around Seven years and they seem like twenty-nine Yes, she's packed up all of her gay clothing And declared Lord Bateman she'd go find Well she sailed east and she sailed to the westward She sailed all over to the England shore She rowed 'til she come to Lord Bateman's castle And she summonsed his porter right down to the door Oh is this not Lord Bateman's castle And is his lordship not within? Oh yes, oh yes cried the proud young porter He's just now bringing his new bride in Go bid him to send me a slice of bread Go bid him to send me a drink of wine And not to forget the Turkish lady That freed him from his close confines What's the news, what's the news, you proud young porter What's the news, what's the news that you've brung to me There stands a lady outside of your castle She's the fairest one I ever did see She has got a gold ring on every finger And one finger she has got three And enough gay gold all around her middle As to buy Northumberland of thee She bids you to send her a slice of bread She bids you to send her a drink of wine And not to forget the Turkish lady That freed you from your close confines Oh up and spoke that new bride's mother She never was known to speak so free Well what's to become of my only daughter She has just been made a bride to thee Oh I've done no harm to your only daughter And she is the none of the worse for me She came to me with a horse and saddle And she shall go home in coacharie Lord Bateman he pounded his fist on the table And he broke it in pieces one two three Says I'll forsake all for the Turkish lady She has crossed that old salt sea for me