Oh, the maid went down to the well for to wash
And the dew fell down from her snow-white flesh
Dew fell down from her snow-white flesh
As the sun shone down so early

And as she washed and as she ran
She hung them out on a hazel wand
She hung them out on a hazel wand
And by there come a Palmer man

“Oh, God speed you, old man', she cries
“God speed you, you fair pretty maid”
“God speed you, my pretty fair maid
As the sun shines down so early”

“Have you got a cup, have you got a can?
Can you give a drink to a Palmer man?
Could you give a drink to a Palmer man?
The sun shines down so early”

“Oh, I’ve no cup, I’ve no can
And I cannot give a drink to a Palmer man
Cannot give a drink to a Palmer man
The sun shines down so early”

Oh, she swore by God and the good St. John
True lover she’d had never a one
True lover she’d had never a one
The sun shines down so early

“Lie, you lie, you are forsworn
Nine children you have born
Nine children you have born
As the sun shines down so early”

'There’s three of them lying under your bed head
Three of them under the hearth are laid
Three of them under the hearth are laid
As the sun shines down so early”

“Three more lying on yonder green
Count fair maid for that makes nine
Count fair maid for that makes nine
As the sun shines down so early”

“Oh Palmer, oh Palmer, do tell me
Penance that you will give to me
Penance that you will give to me
As the sun shines down so early”

“Penance, I will give thee none
But seven years as a stepping stone
Seven years as a stepping stone
As the sun shines down so early”

“Seven more as a clapper to ring in a bell
Seven to run as an ape through hell
Seven to run as an ape through hell
The sun shines down so early”

“Welcome, welcome stepping stone
Welcome clapper in a bell to ring
Welcome clapper in a bell to ring
As the sun shines down so early”

'Welcome, welcome stepping stone
Christ keep me from the apes of hell
Christ keep me from the