As I roved out one bright May morning

To view the purple heather and flowers gay

Who should I spy but my own true lover

As she sat under yon willow tree

I took off my hat and I did salute her

I did salute her most courageously

When she turned around

And the tears fell from her eyes

Saying 'False young man, you have deluded me



Three diamond rings for love I gave you

Three diamond rings to wear on your right hand

But the vows you made, love

You went and broke them

And married the lassie that had the land.'



'If I married the lassie that had the land, my love

'Tis that I'll rue until the day I die

But when fortune calls few men can shun it

I was a blind fool was I'



Now at night when I go to my bed of slumber

The thoughts of my true love run in my mind

When I turned around to embrace my darling

Instead of gold 'tis brass I find



And I wish the Queen would call home her armies

From the West Indies, Americkay, and Spain

And every man to his homeland would run

And I in hope that we'd meet again

Then I roved out one bright May morning...