There was a knight, and he was young,
A-riding along the way, sir,
And there he met a lady fair
Among the cocks of hay, sir.
Down, derry down.
Quoth he, "Shall you and I, lady,
Among the grass lye down-o,
And I will have special care
Of rumpling up your gown-o."
Down, derry down.
"If you go along with me,
Unto my father’s hall, sir,
You shall enjoy my maidenhead,
And my estate and all, sir."
Down, derry down.
So he mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself upon another,
And then they rode upon the road,
Like sister and like brother.
Down, derry down.
And when she came to her father’s house,
All moated round about, sir,
She stepped straight within the gate,
And shut this young knight out, sir.
Down, derry down.
"Here is a purse of gold," she said,
"Take it for your pains, sir,
And I will send my father’s men
To go home with you again, sir.
Down, derry down.
"And if you meet a lady fair,
As you go through the town, sir,
You must not fear the dewy grass,
Nor the rumpling of her gown, sir.
Down, derry down.
"And if you meet a lady gay,
As you go by the hill, sir,
If you will not when you may,
You shall not when you will, sir."
Down, derry down.