Sir Eglamore

folk song

Info

This song appears in print in the early 17th century. (source: Sail Away, Locke)

Lyrics

(English folk song)

Sir Eglamore was a valiant knight,
fa la lanky down dilly,
He took up his sword and he went to fight,
fa la lanky down dilly.
And as he rode o’er hill and dale,
All armored in a coat of mail.

Refrain
Fa lanky down, l lanky down, fa lanky down dilly.

Out came a dragon from her den…
That killed God knows how many men…
When she saw Sir Eglamore,
You should have hear that dragon roar. Refrain

Well, then the trees began to shake…
Horse did tremble and man did quake…
The birds betook them all to peep,
it would have made a grown man weep. Refrain

But all in vain it was to fear…
For now they fall to fight like bears…
To it they go and soundly fight,
the live-long day from more ’till night. Refrain

This dragon had a plaguey hide…
That could the sharpest steel abide…
No sword could enter through her skin,
Which vexed the knight and made her grin. Refrain

But as in choler she did burn…
He fetched the dragon a great good turn…
As a yawning she did fall,
he thrust his sword up, hilt and all. Refrain

Like a coward she did fly…
To her den which was hard by…
There she lay all night and roared,
the knight was sorry for his sword. Refrain