Lyrics: My Husband

My husband (is a fine and lawful man)

My husband is a fine and lawful man
He fishes and he hunts and he tills the land
We’ve a cow, three goats, some chickens and a lamb
My husband is a fine and lawful man

The king, he gave the call to go to war
It is a call my husband, he just won’t ignore
I begged him not to leave; we’ve a babe on the way
He said, “I’m sorry, I must go, I can not stay”

My husband is a fine and lawful man…

He straps on his sword, her straps on his shield
Then he sets forth apace across our field
I watch him as he goes with tears in my eyes
I wonder if I ever will see him alive

My husband is a fine and lawful man…

I watched for him for nigh on to a hundred nights
I see the wagon coming that brings no delights
They bear my husband’s body to my open door,
He is bloody, he is lifeless, my love is no more

My husband WAS a fine and lawful man…

I bury my husband with his shield and sword
And I cry unto the gods “where is my just reward”
I am done with weeping; I am done with tears
I swear that I will change this, though it take thirty years

My husband WAS a fine and lawful man…

Now I’ve a fine and bonny son, his hair is red
We’ll make the road our home and the fields our beds
We’ll be true to ourselves, and we’ll promise no more
I swear that my son will not go to war

My son will be a fine and peaceful man
He’ll fish and he’ll hunt and he’ll wander the land
We’ll get a wagon and two mules, some chickens and a lamb
And my son will be a fine and peaceful man.

©2003 Rita Nauman