As I roved out one evening fair
By the verdant braes of Skreen.
I set my back to a hawthorn tree
To view the sun in the west country, And the dew on the forest green.
A lad I spied by Owen's side
And a maiden on his knee.
And he was as dark as the berry brown wood And she all whey and wan to see,
All whey and wan was she.
""Oh, sit you down on the grass,"" he said. ""On the dewy grass so green
For the wee birds all have come and gone Since I my true love have seen,"" he said. ""Since I my true love have seen""
""Then I'll not sit on the grass,"" she said. ""Nor be a love of thine
For I hear you love a Connaught girl
And your heart's no longer mine,"" she said ""And your heart's no longer mine.""
""But I will climb a high, high tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest.
And back I'll bring what I find there
To the arms that I love best,"" she said. ""To the arms that I love best.""