The Two Magicians

Canadian folk singer Jesse Ferguson performs traditional British ballad "The Two Magicians" (Child 44, Roud 1350). Chords and lyrics below. The song depicts a sequence of sexual harassment, and it should be clear that performing it is in no way an endorsement of such behaviour today.

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The Two Magicians
(traditional [Child 44], arrang. J. Ferguson 2024)

1.
Am
A lady stands in her own front door
G
as straight as the willow wand,
Am
and by there come a lusty smith
Am G Am
with a hammer in his hand.

Chorus:
And he said, “Bide, lady, bide,
there’s nowhere you can hide.
For the lusty smith will be your love,
and he will lay your pride.”

V2.
“Well may you stand, you lady fair,
all in your robes of red,
but come tomorrow at this same time
I’ll have you in me bed.”

Chorus:

V3.
“Away, away, you coal black smith;
would you do me this wrong,
to think to have my maidenhead
that I have kept so long?
I’d rather I was dead and cold
and laid within the grave
than a lusty, dusty, coalblack smith
my maidenhead should have.”

V4.
So the lady she held up her hand,
and she swore upon her soul
that she’d not need the blacksmith’s love
for all of a box of gold.

V5.
But the blacksmith he held up his hand,
and he swore upon the mass,
saying, “I’ll have you in me bed, young girl,
for the half of that or less.”

Chorus:

V6.
So the lady she turned into a dove
and she flew up in the air,
but he became an old cock pigeon
and they flew pair and pair.

Chorus:

V7.
So the lady she turned into a hare,
and she ran across the plain.
But he became a greyhound dog
and he ran her down again.

Chorus:

V8.
So she became a little mare
as dark as the night was black.
But he became a golden saddle
and he clung upon her back.

Chorus:

V9.
So she became a hot griddle
and he became a cake.
And every move that poor girl made
the blacksmith was her mate.

Chorus:

V10.
So she became a full-dressed ship,
and she sailed upon the sea.
But he became a bold captain
and aboard of her went he.

Chorus:

V11.
Into the bedroom then ran she,
and she changed into a bed.
But he became a green coverlet,
and he gained her maidenhead.
And when she woke, he held her so,
and still he bade her bide,
and the lusty smith became her love
for all her mighty pride.