Royal Forester
Steeleye Span Lyrics

I am a forester of this land
I am a man who oversees and manages the forest of this land.

As you may plainly see,
As it is quite evident.

It's the mantle of your maidenhead
I am after your virginity.

That I would have from thee.
I want to take your virginity.

He's taken her by the milk-white hand,
He grabbed her hand which is as white as milk.

And by the leylan sleeve,
And by her clothing.

He's lain her down upon her back
He made her lie down on her back.

And asked no man's leave.
Without asking anyone's permission.

Now since you've lain me down young man
Since you had sex with me.

You must take me up again,
You have to fulfill your responsibility of marrying me.

And since you've had your will on me,
Since you have had sex with me.

Come tell to me your name.
Please tell me your name.

Some call me Jim, some call me John,
People know me by various names.

Begad it's all the same,
It doesn't matter what I am called.

But when I'm in the king's hight court
But when I am at the king's court.

Erwilian is my name.
My name is Erwilian.

She being a good scholar
She was well-educated.

She's spelt it over again,
She spelled the name out again.

Erwilian, that's a Latin word,
Erwilian is a Latin word.

But Willy is your name.
But your name is Willy.

Now when he heard his name pronounced,
When he heard his name.

He mounted his high horse,
He got on his horse.

She's belted up her petticoat
She gathered and held up her dress.

And followed with all her force.
She followed him with all her might.

He rode and she ran
He rode and she ran.

A long summer day,
For the whole day.

Until they came by the river
Until they reached the river.

That's commonly called the Tay.
Which is often known as the Tay.

The water it's too deep my love,
The water is too deep to walk through.

I'm afraid you cannot wade,
I'm afraid you cannot cross the river on foot.

But afore he'd ridden his horse well in
Before he had ridden his horse too far into the river.

She was on the other side.
She had crossed the river.

She went up to the king's high door,
She went to the king's door.

She knocked and she went in,
She knocked and went inside.

Said one of your chancellor's robbed me,
One of your officials has wronged me.

And he's robbed me right and clean.
And he has taken away something very valuable from me.

Has he robbed you of your mantle,
Has he taken away your cloak.

Has he robbed you of your ring,
Has he taken away your ring.

No he's robbed me of my maidenhead
No, he has taken away my virginity.

And another I can't find.
And I cannot find another one to give.

If he be a married man
If he is a married man.

Then hanged he shall be,
Then he will be sentenced to death.

And if he be a single man
But if he is unmarried.

He shall marry thee.
Then he has to marry you.

This couple they got married,
This couple got married.

They live in Huntley town,
They live in Huntley town.

She's the Earl of Airlie's daughter,
She is the daughter of the Earl of Airlie.

And he's the blacksmith's son.
And he is the son of a blacksmith.