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 the milk 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, O, he's played unto the king

Who never thought it long

As he sat fiddling in a castle hall

He's played them all so sound asleep

All but for the young princess

And for love she stayed awake

At first he played a slow, grave tune

And then a gay one, too

And many's the sigh and the loving word

That passed between them 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 wrapped his fiddle in a cloth of green

And a glad man was he

Then he's run off to his own house

Saying "Tom, come hither to me

"When day has dawned and the cocks have crowed

And flapped their wings so wide

It's I am bidden to that lady's door

To stretch out by her side."

"Lie down in your bed, my good master

And sleep long as you may

I'll keep good watch, and I'll waken you

Three hours before 'tis day."

But he 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

Nor to bolster nor to bed

But down upon the bower floor

Very quick he 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 moonlight did coldly go

"Ragged are your stockings, love

Stubbly is your cheek and chin

And tangled is that yellow hair

That I saw yestere'en."

"These stockings belong to my boy, Tom

They're the first came to my hand

The wind, it 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."

Then 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 at the pin

The lady was true to her word

She arose and let him in

"O, 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."

"O 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's run 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

Or if I have taken no life tonight

Tom, thou hast taken three."

Then he's pulled out his bright broad sword

And dried it on his sleeve

And he's smote off that vile lad's head

And asked for no man's leave

He's set the sword's point unto his breast

And the pommel to a stone

For through the falseness of that lying lad

These three lives were all gone