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Fair Flower of Northumberland

from A Twelvemonth and a Day by Mark Automaton

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lyrics

The provost's young daughter was walking alone,
Oh but her love it was easy won,
When she heard a Scots prisoner a-making his moan,
Oh and she's the fair flower of Northumberland.

He said, “Oh, if a lassie would borrow a key,
Oh but her love it was easy won,
I would make her a lady of high degree,
If she'd loose me out of this prison so strong."

So she's gone up to her father's bed stock,
Oh but her love it was easy won,
And she's stolen the keys for many a brave lock,
To loose him out of his prison so strong.

Then she's gone down to her father's stable,
Oh but her love it was easy won,
And she's taken a horse that's both fleet and able,
For to carry them over to bonny Scotland.

As they were a-riding across the Scots moor,
He said "Oh but your love it was easy won,
Get down from my horse, you're a brazen-faced whore.
Though you were the flower of Northumberland.”

“For I have a wife in my own country,
Oh but your love it was easy won,
And I cannot do nothing with a lassie like thee.
Though you were the flower of Northumberland.”

“Well it's cook in your kitchen I surely can be,
Oh but my love it was easy won,
For I dare not go back to my own country,
Where I was the flower of Northumberland."

“Well it's cook in my kitchen you never shall be,
Oh but your love it was easy won,
For my lady she will not have servants like thee.
So get you back home to Northumberland."

And when she got back her father did frown,
He said "Oh but your love it was easy won,
For to be a Scot's whore when you're only fifteen,
And you were the flower of Northumberland.”

And when she got back her mother did smile,
She said "Oh but your love it was easy won,
But you're not the first lass that the Scots have beguiled
And you're still the fair flower of Northumberland.”

credits

from A Twelvemonth and a Day, released May 11, 2019

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Mark Automaton UK

Mark Automaton came to prominence as a founding member of the seminal “cassette culture” band the Instant Automatons, who were instrumental in spearheading the UK DIY music scene of the late 70s and early 80s.
Since then, Mark has been active as a producer, musical collaborator and solo artist, releasing music under his own name and also as 391 and randomk/automata. ... more

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