Song Lyrics

Airly one morning young William arose
It's off to his comrade's bedchamber he goes
Saying "comrade, royal comrade, rise and let no one know
For this is a fine morning and bathing we'll go"

They both walked along 'till they came to a long lane
The first one they met was the keeper of game
And he wished them in his heart to return back again
But the fate of young William was to die in a watery main

Young William stripped off and he swum the lake round
He swum to an island but not in dry ground
Saying "comrade, royal comrade, do not venture in
For there's deep and false waters in the lakes of Champlain"

Airly next morning his sister arose
And off to her mother's bedchamber she goes
Saying "mother, dearest mother, I dream'd a true dream
That young William was floating in a watery stream"

It was airly next morning his mother came there
Wringing her fingers and tearing her hair
Saying "was there nobody by
That would venture their life for my fine darling boy?"

Airly next morning his uncle came there
He rowed round the strand like a man in despair
His uncle stripped himself and swum the lake round
And he swum to the island where William was found

Saying "comrade, royal comrade, do not venture in
For there's deep and false waters in the lakes of
Champlain"

The day of his funeral, it was a great sight
Four and twenty young men all dressed in white
They took him up to Mary's church and laid him in the clay
Saying "farewell, lovely William, forever and a day"

God help his poor mother, she's got reason to mourn
And likewise his sweetheart for I'm sure she has more
For every other morning he did her salute
With pinks and red roses and fine garden fruit

Martin Simpson, Trad. Arr.

The duration of Lakes of Champlain is 4:39 minutes and seconds.