Sovay Sovay all on a day She dressed herself in man's array With a brace of pistols all at her side To meet her true love, to meet her true love, away she ride.
As she was galloping on the plain She met her sweetheart and bid him stand: “Stand and deliver, young man,” she said, “If and you do not, if and you do not, I'll shoot you dead.”*
He delivered up his golden store And still she craved for one thing more: “That diamond ring that I see you wear, Oh hand it over, oh hand it over, and your life I'll spare.”
“From me diamond ring I wouldn't part, For it's a token from me sweetheart. Shoot and be damned, you rogue,” said he, “And you'll be hanged, and you'll be hanged for murdering me.” She being soft-hearted much like a dove She turned her horse and she rode away from her true love.
Next morning in the garden green Young Sophie and her love were seen; He spied his watch hanging by her clothes Which made him blush, lads, which made him blush like any rose.
“Why do you blush you foolish thing, I thought to have that diamond ring. Twas I who robbed you all on the plain And here's your gold, love, and here's your gold and your watch and chain.”
“I only did it for to know Whether you were a man or no; If you had given me that ring,”she said, “I'd have pulled the trigger, I'd pulled the trigger and shot you dead.”
* Malcolm Douglas hears this as “if'n”, but I think of the “an” as the archaic word also meaning “if”.