As it befell upon one time, About midsummer of the year 

Every man was taxed of his crimes, For the stealing of the Bishop's mare. 

Our lords are to the hunting gone, Over the moors and mountains clear 

And they have gripped Hugh the Graeme, For stealing of the Bishop's mare.

They have tied him hand and foot, And led him into Carlisle town 

The lads and lasses stood on the walls, Crying, "Hugh the Graeme thou'll ne'er go down." 

Then they have chosen a jury of men, 'Mong all their best nobility 

And twelve of them cried out at once, "Sir Hugh the Graeme he now must die." 

Then it's up and spoke the lady Hume,As she sat by the Bishop's knee 

"Five hundred measures of gold I'll give, To grant Sir Hugh the Graeme to me." 

"O hold your tongue," the Bishop said, "And ye'll let all your pleadings be. 

Though all the Graemes were in this court, He should be hanged high for me."

They've ta'en him to the gallows-knoll, He looked to the gallows tree 

Yet never colour left his cheek, Nor ever did he blink his eye. 

He looked over his left shoulder, It was to see what he might see 

And there he saw his old father . And he was weeping bitterly. 

"O hold your tongue my father dear, And with your weeping let it be. 

Thy weeping's sorer on my heart , Than all that they can do to me."

"You'll give my brother John the sword, That's pointed with the metal clear,

And bid him come at eight of the clock, To see me pay the Bishop's mare."

"Remember me to Maggie my wife, The next time you gang o'er the moor

She is the cause I lose my life, She with the Bishop played the whore." 

"And you may tell my kith and kin, I never did disgrace their blood, 

And when they meet the Bishop's cloak, To make it shorter by the hood." 

audio with vocals will appear here soon for you to sing along with the lyrics.