I must be going, no longer staying The burning Thames I have to cross Oh, I must be guided without a stumble Into the arms of my dear lass
When he came to his true love's window He knelt down gently on a stone And it's through a pane he whispered slowly My dear girl, are you alone?
She rose her head from her down-soft pillow And snowy were her milk-white breasts Saying: 'Who's there, who's there at my bedroom window Disturbing me from my long night's rest?
Oh, I'm your love and don't discover I pray you rise, love, and let me in For I am fatigued from my long night's journey Besides, I am wet into the skin
Now this young girl rose and put on her clothing She quickly let her own true love in Oh, they kissed, shook hands, and embraced together Till that long night was near an end
O Willie dear, O dearest Willie, Where is that colour you'd some time ago? O Mary dear, the clay has changed me I'm but the ghost of your Willie O
Then O cock, O cock, O handsome cockerel I pray you not crow until it is day For your wings I'll make of the very first beaten gold And your comb I'll make of the silver grey
But the cock it crew, and it crew so fully It crew three hours before it was day And before it was day, my love had to go away Not by the light of the moon or the light of day
Then it's Willie dear, O dearest Willie Whenever shall I see you again? When the fish they fly, love, and the sea runs dry, love And the rocks they melt in the heat of the sun