The Twelve Witches by Steeleye Span Lyrics

Oh there were twelve witches bold
And they lived in the north
And their equals were not seen
On the face of the earth

The first witch, with her hand
The storm could hush
And the second witch could stop
All the torrents rush

And the third witch, she could strike
Upon the golden lyre
And she charmed both young and old
Into the dancing fire

Rowan tree, red thread
Hold the witches all in dread

The fourth witch she could dive
In the sea as a fish
And the fifth witch she never wanted
Any meat on a dish
And now the next witch go
Under the earth could she
And the seventh witch could dance
Upon the rolling sea

And the eighth witch on her horn
She would blow a blast
And everyone who heard
Would shudder and stand aghast

Rowan tree, red thread
Hold the witches all in dread

Oh the ninth witch she tamed all
That in the greenwood crept
And the tenth witch, not a nap
She had ever slept

The eleventh witch, the grisly
Lindworm bound
And the twelfth witch she could all
Things understand

And these twelve witches bold
They all lived in the north
And their equals were not seen
On the face of the earth
Rowan tree, red thread
Hold the witches all in dread......