As I roved out on a May mornin'
On a May mornin', right early
I spied my love upon the way
Oh Lord, but she was early
Her shoes were black, her stockings white
And her buckles shone like silver
She had a dark and rovin' eye
And her earrings touched her shoulders
(Chorus)
And she sang:
"A lith a dlddle, lith a diddle lith a dlddle dee
Cha hiddle hundiddy, cha hiddle hundiddy
and cha lan day"
And she sang:
"A lith a dlddle, lith a diddle lith a dlddle dee
Cha hiddle hundiddy, cha hiddle hundiddy
and cha lan day
and cha lan day"
How old are you my bonny be girl
how old are my darlin'
How old are you my bonny be girl
"I'll be seventeen on Sunday"
While I went to her house at the top of the hill
And the moon was shinin' clearly
She arose to let me in
but her mother chanced to hear me
(Chorus)
When she caught her by the hair of the head
And out of the room, she brought her
And with the root of a hazel branch
She was the well-beat daughter.
"Will you marry me now, me soldier boy?
Will you marry me now, or never?
Will you marry me now, me soldier boy?
Can you see I'm done forever?"
Well I won't marry you, my bonnie be girl
Well I won't marry you, my darlin'
For I have got a wife at home
And how can I disown her?
(Chorus)
Well, a pint at night is my delight
And a gallon in the mornin'
The old women' they are my heartbreak
But the young ones are my darlin's
As I roved out on a May morning
On a May morning, right early
I spied my love upon the way
Oh Lord, but she was early
(Chorus)
And she sang:
"A lith a dlddle, lith a diddle lith a dlddle dee
Cha hiddle hundiddy, cha hiddle hundiddy
and cha lan day
and cha lan day."