The Two Magicians lyrics

The lady stood at her own front door

As straight as a willow wand,

And along there come a husky smith

With a hammer in his hand.

And he said,

[Refrain]

“Bide lady, bide,

There's nowhere you can hide.

The husky smith will be your love

And that'll pull down your pride.

“Well may you dress, you lady fair,

All in your robes of red.

Before tomorrow at this same time

I'll have your maidenhead.”

Saying,

[Refrain]

“Away, away, you coal blacksmith,

Would you do me this wrong?

To think to have me maidenhead

That I have kept so long.

“I'd rather I was dead and cold

And my body laid in the grave

Than a husky, dusty, coal blacksmith

My maidenhead should have.”

Then the lady she held up her hand

And swore upon her soul,

She never would be the blacksmith's love

For all of a box of gold.

And the blacksmith he held up his hand

And he swore upon the mass,

“I'll have you for me love, me girl,

For the half of that or less.”

Saying,

[Refrain]

Then she became a turtle dove

And flew up in the air,

And he became an old cock pigeon

And they flew pair and pair.

And he cooed,

[Refrain]

And she became a little duck,

A-floating in the pond,

And he became a pink-necked drake

And chased her round and round.

Quacking,

[Refrain]

She turned herself into a hare

And ran upon the plain,

And he became a greyhound dog

And fetched her back again.

Barking,

[Refrain]

And she became a little ewe sheep

And lay all on the common,

And he became a shaggy old ram

And swiftly fell upon her.

Saying,

[Refrain]

She changed herself to a swift young mare

As dark as the night was black,

And he became a golden saddle

And clung unto her back.

Saying,

[Refrain]

And she became a little green fly,

A-flew up in the air,

And he became a hairy spider

And fetched her in his lair.

Saying,

[Refrain]

Then she became a hot griddle

And he became a cake,

And every change that poor girl made

The blacksmith was her mate.

Saying,

[Refrain]

She turned herself to a full-dressed ship

A-sailing on the sea,

And he became a captain bold

And aboard of her went he.

Saying,

[Refrain]

So the lady ran in her own bedroom

And changed into a bed,

And he became a green coverlet

And gained her maidenhead.

And was she woe, he held her so,

And still he bad her bide,

And the husky smith became her love

And that pulled down her pride.

• Artist:A.L. Lloyd