In one of these lone Orkney Isles
There dwelled a maiden fair,
Her cheeks were red and her eyes were blue
She had yellow curling hair
Which caught the eye and then the heart
Of one who never could be
A lover of so true a maid
Or fair a form as she
Across that lake in Sandwick
Dwelled a youth she held most true,
And ever since her infancy
He had watched those eyes so blue
The land runs out into the sea
It's a narrower neck of land
Where weird and grim the standing stones
In a circle there they stand
One bonny moonlight Christmas Eve
They met at the sad place
With heart of glee and the beams of love
Were shining on her face
Her lover came and grasped her hand
And what loving words they said
They talked of future's happy days
As through the stones they strayed
They walked towards the Lover's Stone
And through it passed their hands
They plighted there a constant troth
Sealed by love's steadfast bands
He kissed his maid and he then watched her
That lonely bridge go o'er,
For little, little did he think
He would see his darling more
He turned his face toward his home,
That home he never did see
And you shall have the story,
As it was told to me
When a form upon him sprang
With dagger gleaming bright,
It pierced his heart; his dying screams
Disturbed the silent night
The murderer was the one who wished
That maiden's heart to gain,
And unnoticed he had seen them part
And he swore he would give her pain
This maid had nearly reached her home,
When she was startled by a cry,
And she turned to look around her
And her love was standing by
His hand was pointing to the stars
And his eyes gazed at the light,
And with a smiling countenance
He vanished from her sight
She gained her home, but well did she know
That her faithful love was dead,
She spoke to none, but she pined away,
Not a smile on her face was seen,
And with outstretched arms she went to meet him
In a brighter place
@Scots @murder @love
Collected by Peter Kennedy in the Orkneys
Recorded on Folksongs of Britain Vol 7
filename[ STANSTON
SF
===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY