The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the corn it ripens fastest when the frosts are settling in,
And when the young man tells me that my face he'll soon forget,
Before we part I'll wage a crown, he's fain to follow yet.

And the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
The swallow flies without a thought as long as it is spring,
But when spring goes and winter blows my love then you'll be free,
For all your pride to follow me across the raging main.

And the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
And the bee that flew when summer shone in winter cannot sting,
And I've seen a young man's anger melt between the night and morn
So it's surely not a harder thing to melt a young man's scorn.

So don't you bid me farewell here, no farewell I receive,
For you will lie with me my love then kiss and take your leave,
And I'll wait here 'til the moorcock calls and the Martin takes the wind
For the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing.