Joan Baez: "Mary Hamilton"

word is to the kitchen gone
and word is to the hall
and word is up to madam the Queen
and that's the worst of all
that Mary Hamilton has borne a babe
to the highest Stuart of all
arise, arise Mary Hamilton
arise and tell to me
what thou hast done with thy wee babe
i saw and heard weep by thee
i put him in a tiny boat
and cast him out to sea
that he might sink or he might swim
but he'd never come back to me
oh hold your tongue my sovereign liege
and let your folly be
for if you'd a mind to save my life
you'd never have shamed me here
last night there were four Marys
tonight there'll be but three
it was Mary Beaton and Mary Seton
and Mary Carmichael and me