Come, all you lads and lassies, and listen to me a
While
I'll sing to you a verse or two that will surely make
You smile
Concerning a young man I'm going to tell you now
Who has lately came a-courtin' the maid of the sweet
Brown knowe
This young man says, "My pretty maid, will you come
Along with me?
We'll both fly off together, and happy we will be
We'll join our hands in wedlock bands as I'm speaking
With you now
And I'll do my best endeavor for the maid of the sweet
Brown knowe"
This fair and fickle young thing, she knew not what to
Say
Her eyes did shine like diamonds bright and merrily did
Play
She says, "Young man, your love's subdued, for I'm not
Ready now
And I'll spend another season at the foot of the sweet
Brown knowe
The young man said: "My pretty maid, how can you answer
So?
See down in yonder valley where my crops do gently grow
Down in yonder valley I have horses, men and plow
And they're at the daily labor for the maid of the
Sweet brown knowe"
"If they're at their daily labor, kind sir, 't is not
For me
I've heard of your behavior, I have indeed," said she
"There is an inn where you call in, I've heard the
People say
And you rap and you call and you pay for all and go
Home at the break of day
"If I rap and I call and I pay for all, the money it is
My own
And I'll never spend your fortune, for I hear that you
Got none
You thought you had my poor heart won, by meeting with
Me now
But I'll leave you where I found you: At the foot of
The sweet brown knowe