Green Bushes

As I was a walking one morning in May
To hear the birds whistle and see the lambkins play
I espied a young damsel, so sweetly sang she
Down by the green bushes where she chanced to meet me

"Oh why are you loitering here, pretty maid?"
"I am waiting for my true love, " softly she said
"Shall I be your true love and will you agree
Down by the green bushes to tarry with me?"

"I will give you fine beavers and fine silken gowns
I will give you smart petticoats flounced to the ground
I will give you fine jewels and live just for thee
If you'll leave your own true love and marry with me"

"I want none of your beavers or fine silken hose
For I'm not so poor as to marry for clothes
But if you be constant and true unto me
I'll leave my own true love and marry with thee"

"Come let us be going, kind sir, if you please
Come let us be going from under these trees
For yonder is coming, my true love I see
Down by the green bushes where he thinks to meet me"

And when he came there and found she was gone
He looked very foolish and cried quite forlorn
"She's gone with a lover and forsaken me
And left the green bushes where she vowed to meet me"

DT #491
Laws P2
printed in Cole
tune "GREEBUSH" from English Folk Songs, Sharp
play.exe GREEBUSH
SOF