King Orfeo

A Shetland ballad

I
Der lived a king inta da aste,         [east
Scowan ürla grün
Der lived a lady in da wast.        [west
Whar giorten han grün oarlac.
        [The wood is early green
        [Where goes the hart yearly

II
Dis king he has a huntin gaen,
He's left his Lady Isabel alane.

III
'Oh I wis ye'd never gaen away,
For at your hame is döl an wae.        [grief

IV
'For da king o Ferrie wi his daert,        [fairyland
Has pierced your lady to da hert.'

V
An aifter dem da king has gaen,
But when he cam it was a grey stane.

VI
Dan he took oot his pipes ta play,
Bit sair his hert wi döl an wae.

VII
An first he played da notes o noy,        [grief
An dan he played da notes o joy.

VIII
An dan he played da göd gabber reel,         [good; jolly
Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.        [might

IX
'Noo come ye in inta wir ha',         [our
An come ye in among wis a'.'        [us

X
Now he's gaen in inta der ha',
An he's gaen in among dem a'.

XI
Dan he took out his pipes to play,
Bit sair his hert wi döl an wae.

XII
An first he played da notes o noy,
An dan he played da notes o joy.

XIII
An dan he played da göd gabber reel,
Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.

XIV
'Noo tell to us what ye will hae:
What sall we gie you for your play?' --

XV
'What I will hae I will you tell,
An dat's me Lady Isabel.' --

XVI
'Yees tak your lady, an yees gaeng hame,        [ye shall
An yees be king ower a' your ain.'

XVII
He 's taen his lady, an he's gaen hame,
Scowan ürla grün
An noo he's king ower a' his ain.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac.

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