• A wealthy squire he lived in our town
• And he was a man of high renown
• He had one daughter, a beauty bright
• And the name he called her was his Heart’s Delight.

• Many a young man far to court her came
• But none of them could her favour gain
• Till there came one of the low degree
• And above them all why she’d fancy he.

• But when her father he came to know
• That his lovely daughter loved this young man so
• Over fifty miles he sent her away
• All to deprive her of her wedding day.

• One night as she lay in her bedroom
• Her lover appeared from out the gloom
• He touched her hand and to her did say
• “Arise my darling and come away.”

• ’Twas with this young man she got on behind
• And they rode swifter than any wind
• They rode on for an hour or more
• Till he cries, “My darling, my head feels sore!”

• A Holland handkerchief she’s then drew out
• And with it wrapped his aching head about
• She’s kissed his lips and these words did say
• “My love, you’re colder than any clay.”

• When they arrived at her father’s gate
• He said, “Get down, love, for the hour is late!
• Get down, get down, love, and go to bed
• And I’ll see this gallant horse is groomed and fed.”

• And when she’s arrived at her father’s hall
• “Who’s that, who’s that?” her own father called
• “It is I dear father, didn’t you send for me
• By such a messenger,” and she’s named he.

• “Oh no dear daughter, that can never be
• Your words are false love, and you lie to me
• For on yon far mountain your young man died
• And in yon green meadow well his body lies.”

• The truth then dawned upon this lady brave
• And with her friends they exposed his grave
• There lay her love though nine months dead
• With the Holland handkerchief tied round his head.

The “Holland Handkerchief” is a ballad that is also known as “The Suffolk Miracle,” which is the title that Francis James Child used in his English and Scottish Popular Ballads. A Holland handkerchief refers to a particular pattern of the handkerchief’s weave. A lovely recent rendition of the song is done by the contemporary Celtic singer Connie Dover on her CD If Ever I Return. You can easily find it on YouTube.