C                    F           C              F
Pale was the wounded knight that bore the rowan shield
C        F              D                  F              G
Loud and cruel were the raven's cries that feasted on the field
       C                     F           C                F
Saying "Beck water, cold and clear, will never clean your wound
        C            F           D                F                  G
There's none but the maid of the winding mere can make thee hale and soond"

[Verse 2]
    C                        F           C                     F
"So course well, my brindled hounds, and fetch me the mountain hare
      C          F           D                 F                 G
Who's coat is as grey as the west water, or as white as the lily fair"
          C                       F          C                 F
Who said, "Green moss and heather bands will never staunch the flood
        C            F            D                  F                    G
There's none but the Witch of the West-Mer-Lands can save thy dear life's blood

[Verse 3]
   C                          F              C                     F
So turn, turn your stallion's head, 'til his red mane flies in the wind
        C     F      D                    F                 G
And the rider of the moon goes by and the bright star falls behind"
    C                   F             C                 F
And clear was the paley moon when his shadow passed him by
  C       F              D                       F               G
Below the hills were the brightest stars when he heard the owlet cry

[Verse 4]
         C                    F        C                  F
Saying, "Why do you ride this way, and wherefore came you here?"
   C        F            D                   F                    G
"I seek the Witch of the West-Mer-Lands that dwells by the winding mere"
      C                       F        C                F
"Then fly free your good grey hawk, to gather the goldenrod
    C         F       D             F                   G
And face your horse into the clouds above yon gay green wood

[Verse 5]
         C                  F           C                F
And it's weary by the Ullswater and the misty brake fern way
     C             F            D                   F              G
'Til through't the cleft in the Kirkstane Pass, the winding water lay"
          C                     F          C                     F
He said, "Lie down, my brindled hound, and rest ye, my good grey hawk
    C        F          D                    F                  G
And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill, for I must dismount and walk

[Verse 6]
    C                     F        C                F
But come when you hear my horn and answer swift the call
      C            F        D                      F                G
For I fear ere the sun will rise this morn ye will serve me best of all"
         C                   F          C               F
And it's down to the water's brim, he's borne the rowan shield
        C     F      D              F                       G
And the goldenrod he has cast in to see what the lake might yield

[Verse 7]
    C                     F         C                   F
And wet rose she from the lake, and fast and fleet went she
    C        F         D                  F                G
One half the form of a maiden fair with a jet black mare's body
    C                        F              C                F
And loud, long and shrill he blew, 'til his steed was by his side
     C   F        D                  F              G
High overhead the grey hawk flew and swiftly did he ride

[Verse 8]
         C                        F          C                      F
Saying, "Course well, my brindled hound, and fetch me the jet black mare
C         F          D                   F                   G
Stoop and strike, my good grey hawk, and bring me the maiden fair"
           C                         F          C              F
She said, "Pray, sheathe thy silvery sword, lay down thy rowan shield
      C          F      D                             F              G
For I see by the briney blood that flows, you've been wounded in the field"

[Verse 9]
        C                             F           C                   F
And she stood in a gown of the velvet blue, bound round with a silver chain
          C          F         D                  F                  G
And she's kissed his pale lips once and twice and three times, round again
          C                               F         C                   F
And she's bound his wounde with the goldenrod, full fast in her arms he lay
    C      F     D                       F               G
And he has risen hale and soond with the sun high in the day
               C                                F              C                 F
And she said, "Ride with your brindled hound at heel, and your good grey hawk in hand
        C        F        D                          F                     G
There's none can harm the knight who's lain with the Witch of the West-Mer-Lands