O, there's many one sings of the grass, the grass And many one sings of the corn But those that sing of good Robin Hood, know little where he was born
O, William was large of limb and life and come of high degree And he has gone to Earl Richard to serve for a meat and fee Earl Richard had one daughter dear, the fairest in the land And William he has courted her to ask her for her hand
O, would my father should get word, what's passed 'tween you and me Before that he should eat or drink, he'd hang you to a tree When 9 months they were at an end and 8 months they were gone Young William took his lady fair unto the wood alone
For he was large of limb and life and held her in his arms She's born to him a fine young son among the leaves so green
When night was gone, the day did come, the sun began to peep Up and raised the Earl Richard out of your drowsy sleep He called upon his merry men by one, by two, by three O, what has come of my daughter dear, that she's not come to me They sought her fore, they sought her back, they sought her up and down They found her in the good green wood nursing a fine young son
Earl Richard took the baby boy and kissed him tenderly Though I would see your father hung, your mother's dear to me He kissed him once and twice again, my grandson I thee claim And Robin Hood in the good green wood and that shall be your name
O, there's many one sings of the grass, the grass And many one sings of the corn But those that sing of good Robin Hood know little where he was born