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One cold frosty morning as I was a-walking,
I met with three gentlemen riding along;
One steppèd up to me and this he did say,
"I'm afraid this cold morning will do you much harm."
"Oh gentlemen, oh gentlemen, I wonders much at you
To think this cold morning will do me much harm,
There is one thing I crave sits between your two legs,
If you'll give it to me it will keep myself warm."
"Oh if you do crave it I'm sure will have it,
Just come along with me to the yonder green tree,
If you'll come along with me to the yonder green tree,
I will have those two gentlemen witness to be."
Soon as he unlighted she instantly mounted,
A-staring those gentleman hard in the face,
Saying, "You misunderstood me and you knowed not my meaning."
And away she went galloping down the long lane.
"Oh why do you spend all your time here in waiting?
Or why do you spend all your time here in pain?
If you give her one guinea, I'm sure she deserves it,
She'll return unto you your own horse again."
"Oh gentlemen, oh gentlemen, lend me one of your horses,
That I may ride after as fast as I can,
And if I overtakes her I warn I will make her,
Return unto me my own horse back again."
She turned herself 'round and saw him a-coming,
Two pistols she instantly took up in hand,
Saying, "It is for my skill my mind to fulfill,
I will have you stand off or you are a dead man."
This variant was collected in 1958 from Freeman Bennett of St. Paul's, NL, by Ken Peacock and published in Songs Of The Newfoundland Outports, Volume 1, pp.214-215, by the National Museum of Canada (1965) Crown Copyrights Reserved.
Another variant was arranged by Paul Butler and recorded as Crafty Maids Policy by Burlap Lute (Here Be Monsters ©2005).
