Lover's Ghost

It's of a farmer in our town
His election goes the country round
He had one daughter, a beauty bright
And in every place was her heart's delight

Many a young man a-courting came
But none of then could her favour gain
Till a young man came, of low-degree
Came underhanded and she fancied he

Soon as her father came this to hear
He separated her from her dear
For four-score miles, this maid was sent
To her uncle's home for her discontent

Well, nine days after this young man died
And his ghost appeared at her bedside
"Rise, rise, my love, and come with me,"
"And break these chains and set me free."

This maid arose and got up behind
And he rode as fast as the very wind
But not one word did this young man speak
But, "my dearest dear, how my head does ache."

She had a handkerchief of the Holland kind
And around his head she did him bind
She kissed his pale lips, and thus did say,
"My dearest dear, you're as cold as clay."

He rode her up to her father's door
And saw her father standing on the floor
"Oh, father dear, did you send for me,"
"By such a kind messenger, kind sir?", said she.

Well he wrung his hands and he tore his hair
Much like a man in deep despair
He tore the hair all from his head
Crying, "daughter dear, your young man is dead."

Early next morning this maid arose
And straight away to the churchyard goes
She rose the corpse that was nine days dead
And found her handkerchief bound around his head