A bold young farmer courted me,
He stole away my liberty,
He stole my heart with a free good will,
Although he's false, I love him still.
There is a flower, I've heard them say,
That's called heartsease by night and day.
I wish I could that flower find,
Would ease my heart and troubled mind.
Down in the meadows she did run,
A-gathering flowers as they sprung,
Some she plucked and some she pulled,
Until she had her apron full.
When first I wore my apron low,
He followed me through frost and snow,
But now my apron strings won't pin
He passes by and says nothing.
I wish to God my babe was born,
And smiling on his daddy's knee,
And I was dead and in my grave,
And the green grass growing over me.
I wish, I wish, but all in vain,
I wish I was a maid again,
But a maid again, I cannot be
Since that a young farmer lay still by me.
There is a bird on yonder tree,
Some say he's blind and cannot see.
I wish it had been the same with me
Before that I met with your company.