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, dear, this night
So this young girl arose and into the garden
goes
Expecting there to meet her heart's delight
She searched the garden around but no true love could be
found
Till at length the bloody gardener came in sight
Says he, My pretty maid, and what brings you
here this way
Oh have you come to rob my flowers so gay
She cries, No thief I am, but I'm 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 came 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
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
You have robbed me of my joy, my jewel and my toy
And I rue the life you ever gave to me
As sung by Martin Carthy
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Susannes
Folksong-Notizen English Notes 
