Lamkin (Child 93M)

But it fell out upon a day
Lord Wearie was to gae frae hame,
And he has left his lady gay
In his castell to stay her lane.

Lamkin rocked,
and fausse nourice sang,
And a' the four tors o the cradle
red blood sprang.

'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the wan:
'He winna still, lady,
for a' his father's lan.'

'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the keys:
'He winna still, lady,
for a' his father's leys.'

'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the pap:'
'He winna still, lady,
for this nor for that.'

'O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi the bell:'
'He winna still, lady,
untill ye cum down yersell.'

The firsten step she steppet,
she stepped on a stane,
And the nexten step she stepped,
she keppit him fause Lamkin.

The thirden step she steppit,
she saw her young son's red blood run on,

'Ye've killed my bairn, Lamkin,
but lat mysell be;
Ye'se be as weel payit a mason
as was ever payd a fee.'