a traditional Scottish ballad that dates from at least 1775, and is known under several other names, including "Johnnie Barbour" and "Lord Thomas of Winesberry".
The king has been a prisoner And a prisoner long in Spain And Willie of the Winsbury Has lain long with his daughter at Jane
"What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Jan? Why you look so pale and wan? Oh, have you had any sore sickness Or yet been sleepin' with a man?"
"I have not had any sore sickness Nor yet been sleepin' with a man It is for you, my father dear For bidin' so long in Spain"
"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown You stand naked upon the stone That I may know you by your shape If you be a maiden or none"
And she's cast off her berry-brown gown She stood naked upon the stone Her apron was low and her haunches were round Her face was pale and wan
"Oh, was it with a lord or duke or knight Or a man of birth and fame Or was it with one of my serving men That's lately come out of Spain?"
"No, it wasn't with a lord, nor duke or knight Nor a man of birth and fame But it was with Willie of Winsbury I could bide no longer alone"
And the king has called on his merry men all By thirty and by three Says, "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury For hanged he shall be"
But when he came the king before He was clad all in the red silk His hair was like the strands of gold His skin was as white as the milk
And "It is no wonder," said the king "That my daughter's love you did win For if I was a woman, as I am a man My bedfellow you would have been"
"And will you marry my daughter Janet By the truth of your right hand? Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet? I will make you the lord of my land"
"Oh yes, I will marry your daughter Janet By the truth of my right hand Why yes, I will marry your daughter Janet But I'll not be the lord of your land"
And he's mounted her on a milk-white steed And himself on a dapple grey He has made her the lady of as much land As she shall ride in a long summer's day
G D. A The king has been a prisoner
G A G And a prisoner long in Spain
Bm D F#m (G) And Willie of the Winsbury
D G Has lain long with his daughter Jane
C D. The king has been a prisoner
C D C And a prisoner long in Spain
C Bm G Em C And Willie of the Winsbury
G C Has lain long with his daughter Jane
G. D ( G ) A "What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Jan? Why you look so pale and wan? Oh, have you had any sore sickness Or yet been sleepin' with a man?"
Andy Irvine sang "Willy O'Winsbury" on Sweeney's Men's eponymous debut album in 1968, accompanying himself on guitar. The recording featured the tune of "Fause Foodrage" (Child 89), which is now commonly used for "Willie O' Winsbury". On the album's sleeve notes, band member Johnny Moynihan wrote, "A ballad for which Andy is renowned. He got the text from Child's 'English and Scottish Ballads'; looking up the tune he got his numbers confused and emerged with the wrong air. By chance it suited the song very well".[6] In 2010, Irvine re-recorded the song with a fuller arrangement of the same tune for his album Abocurragh, adding: "This is Child 100. I collected the words from different versions and as the story goes, on looking up the tune, I lighted on the tune to number 101. I'm not sure if this is true but it's a good story".[7]