As I walked out one May morning
Down by the old riverside
Who should I see but a sweet pretty maid
She was pleasing to my mind
I said to her, "Oh my sweet pretty maid
Won't you sing me a true lover's song?
And if it is true, I will marry you
I will make you my own true wife"
"Oh no kind sir, to get married to you
My age it is too young"
"Well the younger you are, the better you'll be
To spend the night with me"
He's took her by her lily white hand
He's kissed both her cheek and her chin
And he's took her down to some very large house
Where she spent the night with him
Well the night being gone and the moon adorned
The sun on those golden hills
This young man arose and he's put on his clothes
He says "Fair you well my dear"
"That's not the promise you gave to me
Down by the clear-running stream
You said that you would marry me
And make me your own true wife"
"Oh how could I marry a girl like you?
So easily led astray
You better go down to your own dear mother's house
And cry your tears away"
"Oh how can I go to my own dear mother's house
To lead in shame and disgrace
I'd rather go down to some very large brook
And throw my body there"
So he's took her by the lily white hand
Kissed both her cheeks and her chin
He's led her down to some very large brook
And he's thrown her body in
Now as I sail away to some other foreign land
Some other girl I will find
And then I can say in my old age
I married my wife a maid