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Traditional |
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True Thomas sat on Huntley bank |
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And he beheld a lady gay |
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A lady that was brisk and bold |
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Come riding o'er the ferny brae |
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Her skirt was of the grass green silk, |
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Her mantle of the velvet fine |
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At every lock of her horse's mane |
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Hung fifty silver bells and nine |
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True Thomas, he pulled off his cap |
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And bowed him low down to his knee |
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`All hail, thou mighty Queen of Heaven |
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Your like on earth I ne'er did see.' |
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`No, no Thomas she said |
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That name does not belong to me |
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I am the queen of fair Elfland |
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And I have come to visit thee.' |
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`You must go with me Thomas she said, |
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True Thomas you must go with me |
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And must serve me seven years |
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Through well or woe, as chance may be.' |
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Chorus |
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Hark and carp, come along with me, Thomas the Rhymer |
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Hark and carp, come along with me, Thomas the Rhymer |
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Hark and carp, come along with me, Thomas the Rhymer |
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Hark and carp, come along with me, Thomas the Rhymer |
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She turned about her milk white steed |
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And took Thomas up behind |
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And aye whenever her bridle rang |
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Her steed flew swifter than the wind |
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For forty days and forty nights |
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They rode through red blood to the knee |
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And they saw neither sun nor moon |
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But heard the roaring of the sea |
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And they rode on and further on |
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Further and swifter than the wind |
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Until they came to a desert wide |
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And living land was left behind |
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`Don't you see yon narrow, narrow road |
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So thick beset with thorns and briars? |
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That is the road to righteousness |
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Though after it but few enquire.' |
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`Don't you see yon broad, broad road |
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That lies across the lily leaven? |
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That is the road to wickedness |
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Though some call it the road to heaven.' |
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`Don't you see yon bonnie, bonnie road |
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That lies across the ferny brae? |
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That is the road to fair Elfland |
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Where you and I this night must go.' |
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Chorus |