The Bedmaking - Martin Carthy/Dave Swarbrick

Me father born is good old man

He put me to service when I was very young

My mistress and me we never could agree

Because that my master he would love me

Well she sent me upstairs to the loft

To make up a bed so neat and soft

Master followed up with a gay gold ring

Saying Betty have this for your bedmaking

All through the kitchen and down through the hall

All through the parlour among the women all

Master followed up with a gay gold ring

Saying Betty have this for your bedmaking

Mistress come upstairs in a great haste

Caught the master there with his arm round me waist

From the top to the bottom stair she did him fling

Saying mister run that for your bedmaking

All through the kitchen and down through the hall

All through the parlour among the women all

Everybody asked me wherever I had been

And they laughed at dead in the bedmaking

Mistress she flung me out of the door

She called me a nasty cheeky little whore

The weather being wet and my clothes being thin

How I wished I was back at the bedmaking

Six month over and seven month past

Pretty fair maid grew thick about the waist

Her stays wouldn't meet nor her pinafore pin

She cried when she thought of the bedmaking

Eight month over and nine month gone

Pretty fair maid had a beautiful son

She's took him to the church she had him christened John

And she took him back again to the dear old man

She cursed him through the kitchen and down through the hall

Cursed him through the parlour among the women all

Saying if you won't pay me take your little son John

'Cos he never cost you nothing but the bedmaking