As I Roved Out

As I roved out on a bright May morning

To view the meadows and flowers gay

Whom should I spy but my own true lover

As she sat under young willow tree.

 

I took off my hat and I did salute her

I did salute her most courageously

When she turned around, well the tears fell from her

Saying “False young man, you’ve deluded me.”

 

A diamond ring I owned I gave her

“A diamond ring 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,

It’s that I’ll rue until the day I die

When misfortune calls, sure no man can shun it.

I was blindfolded I’ll ne’er deny.”

 

“Now at nights when I go to my bed of slumber,

With thoughts of my true love running in my mind,

When I turn around to embrace my darling,

Instead of gold, sure it’s brass I find.”

 

And I wish the Queen would call home her army

From the West Indies, America and Spain,

And every man to his wedded woman,

In hopes that you and I will meet again.