One Autumn Night

Rutger van Groningen

Lord Donald, from the tavern, did depart one autumn night
Where he'd a pleasant little tumble in the hay
Though the eve'nin' air was pleasant, and the harvest moon shone bright
Ridin' home across the moor he lost his way.

At a pool all ringed with stones, did he dismount to rest his steed
To his surprise, he saw a fair lass all alone
She was wadin' 'mongst the lilies, she paid him little heed
She smiled and she hummed a little song.

Lord Donald said, "Hello lass - I do not mean ya harm."
He gave to her his best and charmin' smile.
"That water must be cold, lass, come on out and be thee warmed
Have a sip of brandy, bide with me a while."

Sing of broken promises, sing of broken lives
Of secret trysts at midnight, of pain that cuts like knives

As she rose all from the water, Donald saw she was with child
Her shape was not concealed by her wet dress -
Still she was a lovely sight, and she gave to him a smile,
He laid out his fine cloak out upon the grass.

"You look much like a lass I knew - Fair Molly," Donald said,
"Whom I met all in me rambles in the town,"
She looked at him and said, "Fair Molly she is dead."
"Out on the gray and lonely moor, she drowned."

"For her lover sorely wronged her, from her own she was outcast
She, off alone, did take her own dear life."
"But bide with me while now, we'll sit close on the grass,
This cold, it does cut through me like a knife."

Sing of broken promises, and sing of broken lives
Sing of abandoned lovers, of pain that cuts like knives

As she drew nigh to him, his young heart in froze in fear
For her eyes were dead and black as pits of Hell
Her hair was full of pond-weed, and her skin was deadly white
Of death and of the bottom she did smell.

He flew all back, lept to his horse, and madly spurred away
In terror for his life and for his soul
In the distance he fancied that he heard her say
"Oh please do stay and keep me from the cold"

"For I'm always in the dark and always cold"

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