1974. Sweet William’s Ghost (Child #77) - Traditional English

There are many versions of this English ballad. The earliest known printings of the song appeared in Allan Ramsay’s “The Tea-Table Miscellany“ (17400 and Thomas Percy’s “Reliques of Ancient English Poetry“ (1765). The story begins with a lover, usually named William, appears as a ghost to his love, usually Margaret. He asks her to release him from his promise to marry her. She may insist that he kiss her and marry her, but he says he is dead and that one kiss would kill her. She releases him from his promise, but in some versions she then dies upon his grave. The ballad is closely related to several of the others in Child’s collection, including “Clerk Saunders“ (Child #69), “Proud Lady Margaret“ (Child #47), “Fair Margaret and Sweet William“ (Child #74) and “The Unquiet Grave“ (Child #78). Lyrics and chords: E ........................ A ......... B7 ............. E There came a ghost to Margaret’s door .