[bad word] 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 [bad word] a-courting
The maid of the sweet brow knowe'

This young man says:
'My pretty maid, will [bad word] along with me
We'll both fly off together
And happy we will be
We'll join our hands in wedlock bands
As I am speaking with you now
And I'll do my best endeavour 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 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 plough
And they're at their daily labour
For the maid of the sweet brown knowe'

'If they're at their daily labour
Kind Sir it's not for me
I've heard of your behaviour
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 call and I pay for all
The money is all my own
I will never spend your fortune
For I hear that you've got none
You've thought you had my poor heart broken
By meeting with ye now
But I leave you where I found you
At the foot of the sweet brown knowe'