Oh heard you of a silly blind harper
Who lived long in Lochmaben town,
How he did to go fair England
To steal King Henry's wanton brown.

And take the halter in thy hose
And of the purpose do not fail.
Wap it over the wanton's nose
And tie it to the grey mare's tail

Hi is up to England gone,
Even as fast as he could hie,
Until he came to King Henry's gate,
And who was there but King Henry. [bad word] in, say he, you silly blind harper,
And of thy harping let me hear.
Oh by my sooth, cries silly blind harper,
I'd rather have stabling for my mare.

The King looks over his shoulder,
Says unto his stable groom,
Go tie the silly blind harper's mare,
Well beside my wanton brown.

Aye he harped and aye he carped
Til all the nobles went through the floor
They thought the music was so sweet
That they forgot the stable door.

Aye he harped and aye he carped
Til all the nobles went sound asleep.
Quietly he took off his shoes
And softly down the stairs did creep

He took the halter from his hose
And of his purpose he did not fail.
He slipped it over the wanton's nose
And tied it to the gray mare's tail.

But on the morning at clear day light,
As they had ended of their cheer,
King Henry's wanton brown was stolen
And also the poor old harper's mare.

Alas, alas, cries the silly blind harper,
Alas, alas that came I here,
In Scotland I've lost my good cowte foal,
In England they've stolen my good grey mare. [bad word] hold your tongue, you silly blind harper,
And of thy alassing let me be,
For you shall get a better mare
And well paid will your cowte foal be.