I courted a wee girl for many's the long day
And slighted all others who came in my way
And now she's rewarded me to the last day
For she's gone to be wed to another
The bride and bride's party to church they did go
The bride she rode foremost she put the best show
And I followed after with a heart full of woe
To see my love wed to another
The bride and bride's party in church they did stand
Gold rings on their fingers, a love by the hand
And the man that she's wed to has houses and land
He may have her since I couldn't gain her
The next time I say her she was seated down neat
I sat down beside her not a bite could I eat
For I thought my love's company far better than meat
Since love was the cause of my ruin
The last time I saw her she was all dressed in white
And the more I gazed on her she dazzled my sight
I lifted my hat and I bade her goodnight
Here's adieu to all false-hearted lovers
I courted that wee girl for many's the long day
And I slighted all others that came in my way
And now she's rewarded me to the last day
For she's gone to be wed to another
So dig me a grave and dig it down deep
And strew it all over with primrose so sweet
And lay me down in it for no more to weep
Since love was the cause of my ruin.
My version, from a woman's point of view
I courted a young man for many's the long day
And slighted all other who came in my way
And now he's rewarded me to the last day
For he's gone to be wed to another
The bride and bride's party to church they did go
The bride she rode foremost, she made a great show
And I followed after with a heart full of woe
To see me love wed to another
The bride and bridegroom in church they did stand
Cold rings on their fingers, a love by the hand
The girl he is married to is beauteous and grand
She may have him since I couldn't get her
The next time I saw him he was seated down neat
I sat down beside him, not a bite could I eat
For I found my love's company far better than meat
Since love's been the cause of my ruin
The last time I saw him he was splendid in grey
The more I gazed him the less I could say
So I dropped a wee curtsy and bid him good day
Here's adieu to all false-hearted lovers
I courted that young man for many's the long day
And slighted all others who came in my way
And now he's rewarded me to the last day
For he's gone to be wed to another
So dig me a grave and dig it down deep
And strew it all over with primrose so sweet
And lay me down easy for no more to weep
Since love's been the cause of my ruin