A garland of green my lover i send And a green turtle to ride thee hence Not fast nor fierce but in ten years time When you my love are in your prime When you my love are in your prime And in ten years time the green of the vine Will be a gentle tender hue And so my hope, my lover my love That i may find ye tender too That i may find ye tender too The leaves of the tree are deep underground The needles of pines sew the soil to the mound The air is of smoke but i see no fire Red roses they droop their heads on the briar
Red roses they droop their heads on the briar And who should be dancing along to this tune I spy mother nature and father time swoon Their bodies are bent their faces are gray But they are the may king and queen, aren't they Yes, they are the may king and queen, aren't they A garland of green my lover i send And a green turtle to ride thee hence Not fast nor fierce but in ten years time When you my love are in your prime When you my love are in your prime