As I roved out
And who are you, me pretty fair maid
And who are you, me honey? (repeat)
She answered me quite modestly:
"I'm me mother's darling.
With me
too-ry-ay, fol de diddle day,
di-re, fol de diddle dairie oh."
And will you come to me mother's house,
When the moon is shining clearly? (repeat)
I'll open the door and I'll let you in
And devil a one would hear us.
So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly. (repeat)
She opened the door and she let me in
And devil a one did hear us.
Then she took me horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable (repeat)
Saying "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse
To eat it if he's able."
Then she took me by her lily-white hand
And she led me to the table (repeat)
Saying "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy
To drink it if you're able."
The she got up and made the bed
And she made it nice and aisy (repeat)
Then I got up and I laid her down
Saying "Lassie, are you able?"
And there we lay till the break of day
And devil a one did hear us (repeat)
Then I arose and put on me clothes
Saying "Darling, I must leave you."
And when will you return again
And when will we get married? (repeat)
When broken shells make Christmas bells
We might well get married
traditional