Cold, Haily, Windy Night

Traditional
(Steeleye Span)

Am                   C
"My hat it is frozen to my head
   Dm                   Am
My feet they are like a lump of lead
                         G
My shoes they are frozen to my feet
     Dm                  Am
With standing at your window.

      Am
     "Let me in," the soldier cried.
     C
     Cold, haily, windy night
          Am
     "Oh, let me in," the soldier cried,
               C            Dm    Am
     "For I'll not go back again, no."


"My father he marches down on the street
My mother the chamber keys do keep
The doors and the windows, they do creak;
I dare not let you in, oh."

     "Let me in," the soldier cried.
     Cold, haily, windy night
     "Oh let me in," the soldier cried,
     "For I'll not go back again, oh."

Oh then she's rose up and she's let him in
She's kissed her true love's cheek and chin
She's drawn him between her sheets again
And she opened and she let him in, oh.

     Then she has blessed the rainy night
     Cold, haily, windy night
     Oh, then she has blessed the rainy night
     That she opened and she let him in, oh.

"Soldier, soldier, stay with me
Soldier, soldier, won't you marry me."
"Oh no, no, no, it never can be
So fare thee well for ever."

     Then she has wept all the rainy night
     Cold, haily, windy night
     Then she has wept all the rainy night
     That she opened and she let him in, oh.

Oh, and he's jumped up all out of the bed
He's put his hat upon his head
And she had lost her maidenhead
Her mother she heard the din, oh.

     Then she has cursed the rainy night
     Cold, haily, windy night
     O then she has cursed the rainy night
     That she opened and she let him in, oh.


Nineteenth century broadside from Baring-Gould collection.
Printed in "Seeds of Love"
[Digital Tradition]

On "Pleased to See the King" album from Steeleye Span, 1971