The trees they grow high, the leaves they do grow green Many is the time my true love I've seen Many an hour I have watched him all alone He's young, but he's daily growing Father, dear father, you've done me great wrong You have married me to a boy who is too young I'm twice twelve and he is but fourteen He's young, but he's daily growing Daughter, dear daughter, I've done you no wrong I have married you to a great lord's son He'll be a man for you when I am dead and gone He's young, but he's daily growing Father, dear father, if you see fit We'll send him to college for another year yet I'll tie blue ribbons all around his head To let the maidens know that he's married One day I was looking o'er my father's castle wall I spied all the boys playing at the ball My own true love was the flower of them all He's young, but he's daily growing At the age of fourteen, he was a married man At the age of fifteen, the father of a son At the age of sixteen, his grave it was green And d**h had put an end to his growring I'll buy my love some flannel and I will make a shroud With every stitch I put in it, The tears they will pour down With every stitch I put in it, How the tears will flow Cruel fate has put an end to his growing