1. As a jolly young plough boy was viewing his land,
whilst his horses lay under a shade,
he whistled and he sang as he gaily walked along,
and by chance he espied a comely maid, comely maid,
and by chance he espied a comely maid.
2. This young man fell in love, but her parents disapproved,
and they vowed they would send him o'er the main.
A pressgang they hired who seized him on his land,
and they send him to the wars to be slain, to be slain,
and they send him to the wars to be slain.
3. But his love went to the harbour where the ship she did lie,
to the captain she sorely did complain.
The captain came on board, saying, "My pretty maid, step in,
for we're going to the wars to be slain, to be slain,
for we're going to the wars to be slain, to be slain."
4. It's out of her pockets she drew handfuls of gold,
a hundred bright guineas and more.
She freely laid them down and took her true love by the hand,
and she led him till she brought him safe on shore, safe on shore,
and she led him till she brought him safe on shore.
5. Happy is the day when true lovers meet,
when their troubles and cares are all o'er.
But cursed are the wars, that send many a lad to sea,
and their true loves never see them any more, any more,
and their true loves never see them any more.
