Drowned Lovers - Kate Rusby

A home-made, photo-selection music video, for the song 'Drowned Lovers' on Kate's first album, Hourglass
Lyrics;
Willie sits in his stable door,
and he's combing his coal black steed.
He's doubting on fair Margaret's love,
and his heart begins to bleed.
"Fetch corn unto my horse, mother,
and meat to my man, john,
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
before the night comes on."
"Stay at home with me, dear Willie,
oh stay at home with me,
And the very best cock in all the roost
your own supper will be."
"Of all your cocks and all your roosts, I value not a pin,
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
before the night comes in."
"Well if you go to fair Margaret's bower
without the leave of me.
In the deepest part of the Clyde water,
then drowned you will be."
"Oh, the good steed that I ride upon,
cost me thrice thirty pounds,
And I'll put trust in his swift feet
to take me safe and sound."
He's ridden o'er yon high, high hill,
and down yon dowey den,
And the rushin' in of the Clyde water
would fear five hundred men.
"Oh, roaring Clyde, you roar so loud.
Your streams are wondrous strong,
Make me a wreck as I come back,
but spare me as I'm gone."
When he's got to fair Margaret's bower,
he's turled low on the pin.
"Rise up, rise up me May Margaret,
rise up and let me in."
"Oh who is this at me bower door
callin' May Margaret's name?"
"Oh it's only your first love, little William
this night come to her home.
"Open up your gates this night, oh open and let me in,
For my boots are full of the Clyde
and I'm frozen to the skin."
"My barns are full of corn, Willie,
and my stable's full of hay,
My bower's full of gentlemen
and they won't remove 'til day."
"Fare thee well to you May Margaret,
fare thee well and adieu.
For I have earned my mother's own curse
by coming this night to you."
He's ridden o'er yon high, high hill,
and down yon dowey den,
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
took Willie's hat from him.
He's leaned him over his saddle bow
to catch his hat again,
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
took Willie's cane from him.
He's leaned him over his saddle bow
to catch his cane by force,
And the rushing in of the Clyde water
took Willie from his horse.
The very hour this young man sank
into the part so deep,
Up and awoke Miss May Margaret
out from her dreary sleep.
"Come here, come here, me mother dear,
and read to me my dream,
I dreamt my love was at our gate
and no one let him in."
"Lie there, lie there, me May Margaret,
lie there and take your rest,
For since your love was at our gate
it's but two quarters past."
Nimbly, nimbly rose she up unto the water's brim,
And the louder that this young girl cried,
the louder grew the wind.
The very first step that she went in,
she's up into her feet,
And it's "Oh and alas!" this young girl cried,
"Your water's wondrous deep."
Oh the very next step that she went in,
she's up unto her knees,
Cried she, "I would go farther in,
If I me true lover could see."
The very next step that she went in,
she's up unto her chin,
In the deepest part of the Clyde water,
she's found sweet William in.
Saying, "You have had a cruel mother Willie,
and I have had another,
And now we'll sleep in the Clyde water
like sister and like brother."
Saying, "You have had a cruel mother Willie,
and I have had another,
And now we'll sleep in the Clyde water
like sister and like brother."

[@jamiesmith2314]

Played on my wedding day. Such an amazing singer and an amazing song. Kate has such a unique voice. Nostalgia flowing right now and tears in the eyes! Beautiful!

[@tracycarver6239]

Best version of this ever, still in 2022!

[@ronaldstrange8981]

Such a lovely person with a beautiful voice. She deserves more publicity. A true artiste. Keep safe and well Kate. February 2021....Locked Down England.

[@marybateman8127]

AMAZING version. It's all in the details - the two notes played at the beginning being *ever so slightly* out from each other gives the song the dark edge it needs. Well done Kate, you are an inspiration!

[@Treadman]

That's Ian Carr aka the man with the guitar!

[@KittyStarlight]

This is so very much my favorite version of this. She is so good. (So is the man with the guitar too.) Learned to sing this directly from this version by the way. Loved this for almost five years. ❤️💙❤️ 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵

[@meirasanya]

This song was the first folk song I learned to sing, and the one I always sing at open-mic nights. It's so beautiful!

[@LittleMongoosie]

I have a passion for Scottish ballads, and I wanted to find a good version to learn "Clyde waters" from, and here i know I've found the best!

[@karenreid5615]

I love Kate Rusby's singing and her style. Can't get enough of her work. She is wonderful.

[@LatchedLungs]

Absolute gem 🎉

[@kentishsteve]

what a voice

[@ftvproductions5344]

Good grieving music. Uplifting and empathetic. Hoorah!

[@TheRighterWriter]

You see the last 27,045 views? That was me.

[@jessealcorn8430]

I literally cannot stop listening to this song....all night

[@PoetryAddict8]

Her music sounds like it's from another century. This inspires me to do something.....But I don't know what...

[@stephenmcewan2460]

[13 yrs later] Did you find out yet?

[@romanpr1nce]

i love folk music!

[@wrongwayup.]

Beautifully sung, and I love how she did several songs in arrangement by Nic Jones. Nic's version is just magnificent and mesmerizing.

[@anto9850]

Brilliant song! Beautiful voice!

[@jackcole3146]

Strangely enough, I really can't get on with folk, especially the English traditional type that Kate favours. But her voice is just perfect, and makes me really wish I could identify with her type of music more. My perfect woman would have her voice.

[@Padomayday]

Absolutely marvelous.

[@jessealcorn8430]

This song blows my mind

[@2468pebble]

Classic performance

[@areh21]

This song talks about the river Clyde, so I assume it's supposed to take place in Scotland

[@BigDuke6ixx]

Awesome!

[@dalekprime31]

The decemberists must have taken massive inspiration from this to write The Hazards of Love

[@123kingkongphoto]

Oh my...what a singer you are ! as good as eddi reader...and thats saying something

[@natanbridge]

There is actually a Wikipedia article for this ballad: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mother%27s_Malison

[@stabbykaji]

I did go see that on your recommendation, and can say that he's a skilled instrumentalist. I did not care for his version of vocals, though. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@thepooleboy1]

Can someone tell me what type of flute is playing first comes in at 1:42? I like

[@brianstevens7789]

First heard this on Nic Jones album Penguin Eggs & Kate's version is equally as good..

[@dampatenzin3433]

Awesome

[@blueboxgirl4175]

Favorite song

[@mikialex252]

❤ it

[@cjhification]

Just wondering why its tagged as English and England when its a song about the Clyde? superb song, been looking for it for years, since I was at Uni happiness today :)

[@lillieanag6394]

Cause, Kate’s from England.

[@louisegraham1869]

What is it about the confusion between Irish and Scottish! I'm Scottish living in Dublin and even the Irish think I am one of them!

[@heishephaestion4178]

you came from Irish ancestors at least partly, correct?

[@peterday7820]

That would be Glasgow Celtic and Rangers.

[@sineadconran4964]

Its yer celtic blood Louise, come visit cork xxxx

[@unamed2516]

There mothers were both terrible what the hell was there problem not letting them seeing each other? This is almost as sad as Romeo and Juliet

[@anneanddonpawlak4508]

So many old ballads and folk songs where parents forbid their children to choose whom they love. It never ends well. The parents lose their children, the very ones they thought they were protecting, and the young lovers die in the prime of their young lives.

[@louisegraham1869]

+capt777harris That would be Glasgow, Rangers vs Celtic. Thanks I'm a scot from the east end of Glasgow...

[@brianfinley6798]

The great Ian Carr on guitar...

[@brucefetter]

please please check out the sam pacetti version of this for some amazing guitar! You;ll love it

[@derekbragg879]

me 2 Austin

[@sophiafake-virus2456]

Never make love to anyone who is drowned.

[@juliamavroidi8601]

Ah, that cursed Russian! 😉

[@rebeccalow9351]

Low D penny whistle I hate all gnomes and all that they do... god save the gnome.

[@blueboxgirl4175]

Lie there, lie there me may margret, lie there and take your rest. I love that part and the part where she says like sister and like brother at the end. I love irish accents. Its so pretty........... I'm part irish so irish music is very calming.

[@blueboxgirl4175]

Stephen Gilmore she is obviously Irish...If you listen to her voice she is Irish....

[@blueboxgirl4175]

Stephen Gilmore and she plays irish celtic music.

[@TheYvonx]

Sparkle Cookie Rainbow Kate Rusby is a local lass - we call her the Barnsley Nightingale - that's Barnsley in Yorkshire England. I've seen her perform in Burnley Lancashire - wonderful. However this is a trad song that may have origins in Scotland as it mentions the Clyde water (river).

[@croagh202]

I think that's "me maid Margaret"? I could be wrong, but I've never heard of a woman being called a "may"?

[@croagh202]

..and her accent is, broadly, from Yorkshire

[@zubeystinzen540]

Beautiful voice but butchered this song to make it sound like coffee shop background music, no syncopation at all. 2 chords & warbled voice doesn't do this classic justice at all