There once was a mason, Lankin was his name;
He built my lord a castle and he went without pay.
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So this Lankin enrag-ed took he up his key;
And swore cruel revenge on my lord Balwearie.
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Said my lord to his lady, as he mounted his horse;
Beware of Long Lankin who lives in the moss.
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He kissed his fair lady, and he rode away;
And my lord was in London before break of day.
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Said this lord to his lady, ere he rode through the fog:
Beware of long lankin who lives by the bog.
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See the doors they're all bolted, and the windows all pinned;
Leave ye not one hole for this man to crawl in.
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So the doors they were bolted, and the windows all pinned;
But a false nure bore up and she's shown Lankin in.
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Wheres the lord of this household? Up an' spoke Long Lankin;
He's away to fair London spake the false nurse to him.
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Where's the heir to this castle? Then spoke Long Lankin;
He sleeps in his cradle spake the false nurse to him.
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So I'll prick him, I'll prick him, all over with a pin;
His cries will make his lady to come down to him.
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So he's pricked him, he's pricked him, all over with a pin:
And his cries bade his lady come to hush him.
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So his lady's come down, she was thinkin' no harm;
but Lankin was waitin' to cartch her by arm.
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There was blood in the kitchen, there was blood in the hall;
there was blood in the parlor where my lady did fall.
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He tore her he wrent her, he ended her time;
strung out her entrails like garland on pine.
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Her daughter beared up in the turret so high;
she's called to her father as he's riding by.
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O' father O' father, please come unto me;
Long Lankins a-comin' all for to kill me.
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O' father O' father, Please blame ye not me;
For the false nurse and Lankin they've killed your baby.
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O' father O' father, Please blame ye not me;
For the false nurse and Lankin they've killed your lady.
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So Long Lankin was hung on the gibbet so high;
and the false nurse, his daughter;
burned by his side.