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The Laidley Worm
& The Mackerel Of The Sea
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I first heard
and was drawn to this song when I was about seven years old. It was
on an album called Nonesuch for Dulcimer that my Dad had borrowed. Last
year he dug up a recording he had made of that album, and sent it to
me. Not surprisingly, the song has a lot of power for me, and I'm
amazed to find myself singing it after all these years. It does not
in any way reflect my relationship with my parents!- James
When I was seven years old oh
my mother she did die
My father married the worst woman the world did ever see.
For she has made me the laidly worm that lies at the foot of the
tree
And my sister, Maiseree, she's made the mackerel of the sea.
And every Saturday at noon the mackerel comes to me
And she combs my hair with a silver comb and washes it in the
sea.
It's seven knights I have slain since I lay at the foot of the
tree
And if you were my own father the eighth one you should be.
Then he sent for his lady gay as fast as send could be
"O where's my son that is sent from me and my daughter Maiseree?"
"Your son is in the king's high court earning his meat and fee
And your daughter's gone to the queen's court a fine lady to be."
"Oh you lie, you lie, you ill woman, so loud I hear you lie!
You've turned my son to the laidly worm that lies at the foot of the
tree
And my daughter Maiseree you've shaped the mackerel of the sea!''
Then she has taken a silver sword and given him strokes three
And she's turned him into the boldest knight that ever your eyes did
see.
Then she has taken a silver horn and loud and shrill blew she
And all the fish came unto her but the mackerel of the sea
Saying ÒYou shaped me once an unseemly shape and you'll never more
shape me!"
Then he has sent unto the wood for vines and for hawthorne
And he has taken that lady gay and there he did her burn.
