Celtic Lyrics Corner > Artists & Groups > Malinky > The Unseen Hours > King Orfeo

King Orfeo     Credits: Traditional; arranged by Malinky     Appears On: The Unseen Hours     Language: Scots-English

Lyrics:

There lived a lady in yon ha'
Scowan erla grae
Her name was Lady Lisa Bell
Far yorten han grun orla

The king, he has a-huntin' gane
Scowan erla grae
An' left his lady all alane
Far yorten han grun orla

The Elfin King wi' his dairt
Scowan erla grae
Pierced his lady tae the hert
Far yorten han grun orla

When the king cam hame at noon
Scowan erla grae
He spiered for Lady Lisa Bell
Far yorten han grun orla

His nobles untae him did say
Scowan erla grae
"My lady was wounded, noo she's deid"
Far yorten han grun orla

Noo they've taen her life frae me
Scowan erla grae
But her corpse they'll never hae
Far yorten han grun orla

The king, he's ca'd his nobles a'
Scowan erla grae
Tae waltz her corpse intae the ha'
Far yorten han grun orla

But when the lords were fa'n asleep
Scowan erla grae
Oot o' the ha' her corpse did creep
Far yorten han grun orla

Noo awa tae the woods he's gane
Scowan erla grae
An' there he sat upon a stane
Far yorten han grun orla

He sat there for seiven years
Scowan erla grae
'Til a company him drew near
Far yorten han grun orla

Some did ride and some did ging
Scowan erla grae
He saw his lady then amang
Far yorten han grun orla

The company, they then made their way
Scowan erla grae
Tae a ha' upon a hill
Far yorten han grun orla

Noo he set him doon fu'l wae
Scowan erla grae
He's taen oot his harp tae play
Far yorten han grun orla

First he played the notes o' noy
Scowan erla grae
Then he played the notes o' joy
Far yorten han grun orla

An' then he played the guid gabber reel
Scowan erla grae
That would mak a sick hert heal
Far yorten han grun orla

There cam a boy frae oot the ha'
Scowan erla grae
Ye're bidden tae play amangst us a'
Far yorten han grun orla

The Elfin King tae him did say
Scowan erla grae
"What will you hae for a' yer play?"
Far yorten han grun orla

For my play I will ye tell
Scowan erla grae
I'll hae my Lady Lisa Bell
Far yorten han grun orla

My sister's son, the unworthy thing
Scowan erla grae
The morn he will be crowned king
Far yorten han grun orla

Noo ye can tak yer lady hame
Scowan erla grae
An' you'll be king a' on yer ain
Far yorten han grun orla