When I was on horseback, wasn't I pretty
When I was on horseback at the break of the day
Wasn't I pretty when I rode from the city
And met with my downfall on the first day of May
Come mother, come father, and sit down beside me
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad case
For my poor heart it is breaking, and my head it is aching
And my soldier has left me in shame and disgrace
Why couldn't he tell me before he disordered me
Why didn't he tell me his secret in time
For I could have bought pills, and the salts of white mercury
But now I am done for, and cut down in my prime
So beat the drum slowly, and play the pipes lowly
Play me a dead march as we come along
And lift my wretched body and lay me down easy
I'm a true hearted girl, never meant to do wrong