As I roved out on a bright May morn,
Monday morning early--
As I roved out on a bright May morn,
Monday morning early
I spied a pretty farrier-maid,
She was her mother's darling
I said, "Who are you, my pretty fair maid,
Who are you, my honey--
Oh, who are you, my pretty fair maid,
Who are you, my honey?"
She answered me quite modestly,
"I am my mother's darling,
"Will you come with me to my mother's house
When the moon is shining clearly--
Come with me to my mother's house
When the moon is shining clearly?
I'll open the door and let you in,
And devil the one may hear us."
So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly--
I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly,
She opened the door and she let me in
And devil the one did hear us.
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable--
She took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable,
Saying, "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse
To eat if he is able."
Then she took me by the lily-white hand
And she led me to the table--
She took me by the lily-white hand
And she led me to the table,
Saying, "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy
To drink if he is able."
Then I got up and I made the bed
And I made it nice and easy--
Oh, I got up and I made the bed
And I made it nice and easy,
Then I got up and I laid her down, saying,
"La**ie, are you comfortable?
"And when will I return again,
"rose, rose
When will we be married--
rose, rose
When shall I return again,
shall I never
When shall we be married?"
see thee wed?"
"When broken shoes make Christmas bells,
It's then we might get married."