O, the first time we met
Was in the wild wood
And the pinks and wild roses
All around us they stood
And you pulled off your apron
Sheltered me from all wind
Lovely Johnny, o lovely Johnny
What has altered your mind?
And o, the color of amber is my love's hair
And his two blue eyes, they enticèd me
And his ruby lips, they being soft and fine
For many's the time they were pressed to mine
Oh I'll go a-fishing in yonder's brook
And I'll catch my love with a line and a hook
And if he loves me as I love him
No man on earth can part us two
Lovely Johnny, lovely Johnny
Do you remember the time
When you promised you'd marry me
Above all womankind?
You pulled off your apron
Sheltered me from all wind
Lovely Johnny, lovely Johnny
What has altered your mind?
O, I wish, I wish, but it's all in vain
And I wish to God I's a maiden again
But a maiden again I will never more be
'Til apples grow on an orange tree
For as apples is ripe, but they soon get rotten
A young man's heart it soon grows cold
What care I for the world of pleasure?
All I wants is an honest young man
Lovely Johnny, lovely Johnny
What has altered your mind?
When you promised you'd marry me
Above all womankind
And you pulled off your apron
Sheltered me from all wind
Lovely Johnny, lovely Johnny
What has altered your mind?
