I have myself a silver blade The edges sharp, the handle bone A little thing of silver made Now it's the only thing I own Once I knew a lordling fine I heard him whistle as he rode And I was bold to call him mine The shoes upon his horse were gold One look in my eyes and he Bid me climb onto his horse And asked if I'd his lady be And go away for ever more He spoke of love songs at each kiss And I who was a young girl then Was promised every young girl's bliss Got up and rode away with him He led me through his castle tall With promises and jewels until He led me through his castle hall Then took my clothes and worked his will And when he had and I lay there From my head with a silver blade He cut a lock of my cold black hair And bid me dress and go my way But I marked well the silver blade And where he sit it when he did And when his back was turned I laid it Buried deep beneath his ribs I used my dagger as a spade Where the thorns and lilacs grow I cut the ground into a grave In a place even God don't know Every evening, I returned To the place for him I chose Until his skin had turned to worms Wild dogs scattered his bones And all I have of what I was Is the memory of a maid Who mistook a thief for love But who gained a silver blade Silver blade