Jack Orion - Bert Jansch

Jack Orion was as good a fiddler

As ever fiddled on a string

He could make young women mad

To the tune his fiddle would sing

He could fiddle the fish out of salt water

Or water from a marble stone

Or milk from out of a maiden’s breast

Though baby she’d got none

He’s taken his fiddle into his hand

He’s fiddled and he’s sung

And oft he’s fiddled unto the King

Who never thought it long

And he sat fiddling in the castle hall

He’s played them all so sound asleep

All but for the young princess

And for love she stayed awake

And first he played at a slow grave tune

And then a gay one flew

And many’s the sigh and loving word

That passed between the two

Come to my bower, sweet Jack Orion

When all men are at rest

As I am a lady true to my word

Thou shalt be a welcome guest

He’s lapped his fiddle in a cloth of green

A glad man, Lord, was he

Then he’s run off to his own house

Says, Tom come hither unto me

When day has dawned and the cocks have crown

And flapped their wings so wide

I am bidden to that lady’s door

To stretch out by her side

Lie down in your bed, dear master

And sleep as long as you may

I’ll keep good watch and awaken you

Three hours before 'tis day

But the rose up that worthless lad

His master’s clothes did don

A collar he’s cast about his neck

He seemed the gentleman

Well he didn’t take that lady gay

To bolster nor to bed

But down upon the bower floor

He quickly had her laid

And he neither kissed her when he came

Nor when from her he did go

And in and out of her window

The moon like a coal did glow

Ragged are your stockings love

Stubbley is your cheek and chin

And tangled is that yellow hair

That I saw yester' 'een

The stockings belong to my boy Tom

They’re the first come to my hand

The wind is tangled my yellow hair

As I rode o’er the land

Tom took his fiddle into his hand

So saucy there he sang

Then he’s off back to his master’s house

As fast as he could run

Wake up, wake up my good master

I fear 'tis almost dawn

Wake up, wake up the cock has crowed

'Tis time that you were gone

The quickly rose up Jack Orion

Put on his cloak and shoon

And cast a collar about his neck

He was a lord’s true son

And when he came to the lady’s bower

He lightly rattled the pin

The lady was true to her word

She rose and let him in

Oh whether have you left with me

Your bracelet or your glove?

Or are you returned back again

To know more of my love?

Jack Orion swore a bloody oath

By oak and ash and bitter thorn

Saying, lady I never was in your house

Since the day that I was born

Oh then it was your young footpage

That has so cruelly beguiled me

And woe that the blood of the ruffian lad

Should spring in my body

Then she pulled forth a little sharp knife

That hung down at her knee

O’er her white feet the red blood ran

Or ever a hand could stay

And dead she lay on her bower floor

At the dawning of the day

Jack Orion ran to his own house

Saying, Tom my boy come here to me

Come hither now and I’ll pay your fee

And well paid you shall be

If I had killed a man tonight

Tom I would tell it thee

But if I have taken no life tonight

Tom thou hast taken three

Then he pulled out his bright brown sword

And dried it on his sleeve

And he smote off that vile lad’s head

And asked for no man’s leave

He set the sword’s point to his breast

The pommel to a stone

Through the falseness of that lying lad

These three lives were all gone