Sir James The Rose
Oh have you heard of Sir James the Rose,
The young heir of Loch Lagon?
For he has killed a gallant squire
And his friends are out to take him.
And he's gone to the House of Mare
A nurse there did befriend him
And he has gone upon his knee
And begged for her to hide him.
"Where ya going, Sir James?" she said.
"Where now are you riding?"
"Oh, I am bound for a forgein land
For now I'm under hiding."
Where shall I go? Where shall I run?
Where shall I for to hide me?
For I have killed a gallant squire
And they're seeking for to slay me.
She turned him right and roundabout
And turned him in the braken.
And he has gone to take a sleep
In the lowlands of Loch Lagon.
He had not well gone out of sight
Nor was he past Millstraton
When four and twenty belted knights
Came riding on the leven.
"Have you see Sir James the Rose,
The young heir of Loch Lagon?
For he has killed a gallant squire
And we're sent out to take him."
"You'll see the bank above the mill
In the lowlands of Loch Lagon
And there you'll find SIr James the Rose
Sleeping in the bracken."
"You must not wake him out of sleep
Nor yet must you afright him.
Just run a dart right thru his heart
And thru the body pierce him."
They saw the bank above the mill
In the lowlands of Loch Lagon
And there they found Sir James the Rose
Sleeping in the bracken.
Then up and spake Sir John the Grey
Who had the charge of keeping.
"It will never be said, dear gentlemen
We killed him while he's sleeping."
They seized his broadsword and his charge
And closely him surrounded.
And when he woke out of sleep
His senses were confounded.
Now they have taken out his heart
And stuck it on a spear
They took it to the House of Mare
And gave it to his dear.
This songbook is collected mainly for my personal use and the enjoyment of my friends.
If you are the author or copyright holder of this song and would like me to take it down, please just write to me at
songbook-at-waks-dot-org, and I will do so.