It fell out upon one Martinmas time
When snow lay on the border
There came a troop of soldiers here
To take up their winter quarters
♪
And they've rode north and they've rode south
And they've rode o'er the border
And there they met with a nice little girl
And she was a farmer's daughter
And they made her swear a solemn oath
With a salt tear in her eye-oh
That she would come to the quarter gates
When no one did her spy-oh
And she's gone to the barber's shop
To the barber's shop went soon-oh
She's made them cut her long yellow hair
As short as any dragoon-oh
With me right fol adle eedle idle a-dee-oh
With me right fol adle eedle eyrie
And she's gone to the tailor's shop
And dresses in soldiers clothes-oh
Two long pistols down by her side
A nice little boy was she-oh
With me right fol adle eedle idle a-dee-oh
With me right fol adle eedle eyrie
And she's gone to the quarter gates
And loudly she does call-oh
There comes a troop of soldiers here
And we must have lodgings all-oh
With me right fol adle eedle idle a-dee-oh
With me right fol adle eedle eyrie
And the quartermaster he comes down
He gives her half a crown-oh
Go find your lodgings in the town
For here there is no room-oh
With me right fol adle eedle idle a-dee-oh
With me right fol adle eedle eyrie
♪
But she's moved nearer to the gates
And louder she does call-oh
O room, room, you gentlemen
We must have lodgings all-oh
With me right fol adle eedle idle a-dee-oh
With me right fol adle eedle eyrie
Oh, the quartermaster he comes down
He gives her 18 pence-oh
Go find your lodgings in the town
Tonight there comes a wench-oh
With me right fol adle eedle idle a-dee-oh
With me right fol adle eedle eyrie
Oh, she took a whistle from her side
She blew it loud and shrill-oh
You're all very free with your 18 pence
You're not for a girl at all-oh
With me right fol adle eedle idle a-dee-oh
With me right fol adle eedle eyrie
And she took the garters from her knees
The ribbons from her hair-oh
She's tied them around the quarter gates
As a token she's been there-oh
♪
And when they found that it was her
They tried to have her taken
But she's clapped her spurs to her horse's side
She's galloped home a maiden