"Says the lord to his lady as he mounted his horse
Beware of long lankin who lives in the moss
Says mylord to Mylady as he went on his way
Beware of long lankin who lives in the hay"

See the doors are all bolted, see the windows all pinned,
And make sure theres no crack for him to creep in.
so the doors were all bolted and the windows were pinned
through a gap in the window long lankin crept in

Where's the lord of the household? cries Long Lankin.
He's away up to London, says the false nurse to him.
Where's the lady of the household? cries Long Lankin.
She's asleep in her chamber, says the false nurse to him.

Where's the heir of the household? cries Long Lankin.
He's asleep in his cradle, says the false nurse to him.
So we'll pinch him and prick him all over with a pin.
to make his [bad word] down to him

So they pinched him and they pricked him all over with a pin.
And the false nurse held the basin for the blood [bad word] in.
Oh nurse how you slumber, oh nurse how you sleep,
You leave my small baby to cry and to weep.

Oh, I tried him with the milk and I've given him a [bad word] down, my lady, and rock him in your lap.
How dare [bad word] down in the dead of the night
When no candle is burning and no fires alight?

But, the lady came downstairs, aware of no harm
Lankin stood ready to catch her in his arm.
There's blood in the kitchen, there's blood in the hall,
There's blood in the parlour where mylady did fall.
There's blood in the parlour where the lady did fall.