The Bloody Gardener

It's of a girl so fair and a shepherd's daughter dear,

She was courted by her own dear heart's delight.

But his mother laid a snare and false letters did prepare,

Saying, "Meet me in the garden here this night."

So this young girl arose and into the garden goes

Expecting there to meet her heart's delight,

Oh she searched the garden around but no true love could be found

Till at length the bloody gardener came in sight.

Said he, "My pretty maid and what brings you this way,

Oh have you come to rob my flowers so gay?"

She cries, "No thief I am but I am in search of some young man

Who promised that he'd meet me here today."

But he took out his knife and cut her tender thread of life

And he laid her virtuous body to bleed on the ground;

And with those flowers fine and gay this girl he did overlay

In a way her body never would be found.

Then her true love arose and into the garden goes

And a milk-white dove come fluttering where she lay;

And with battering wings so sweet all around this young man's feet,

But when he rose this dove she flew away.

Oh the dove, she flew away and into some myrtle tree

And the young man followed after full of pain.

And it's from this tree so tall down on her grave did fall

The fresh blood from off her breast like crimson rain.

The young man in anger rose and back to his home he goes

Crying, "Cursed be my mother here this day!

Oh you've robbed me of my joy, my jewel and my toy,

And I rue the life you ever gave to me."