From Miss Margaret Reburn, as current in County Meath,
Ireland, about 1860.
| 1 |
There were three sisters playing ball,
With the high and the lily O
And there came three knights to court them all.
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 2 |
The eldest of them was drest in green:
With the high and the lily O
'I wish I had you to be my queen.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 3 |
The second of them was drest in red:
With the high and the lily O
'I wish I had you to grace my bed.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 4 |
The youngest of them was drest in white:
With the high and the lily O
'I wish I had you to be my wife.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 5 |
'Did ye ask my father brave?
With the high and the lily O
Or did ye ask my mother fair?
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 6 |
'Or did ye ask my brother John?
With the high and the lily O
For without his will I dare not move on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 7 |
'I did ask your parents dear,
With the high and the lily O
But I did not see your brother John.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
* * * * * |
| 8 |
'Ride on, ride on,' said the first man,
With the high and the lily O
'For I fear the bride comes slowly on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 9 |
'Ride on, ride on,' said the next man,
With the high and the lily O
'For lo! the bride she comes bleeding on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho
* * * * * |
| 10 |
'What will you leave your mother dear?'
With the high and the lily O
'My heart's best love for ever and aye.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 11 |
'What will ye leave your sister Anne?'
With the high and the lily O
'This wedding garment that I have on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 12 |
'What will ye leave your brother John's wife?'
With the high and the lily O
'Grief and sorrow all the days of her life.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 13 |
'What will ye leave your brother John?'
With the high and the lily O
'The highest gallows to hang him on.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
| 14 |
'What will ye leave your brother John's son?'
With the high and the lily O
'The grace of God to make him a man.'
With the rosey sweet, heigh ho |
