On the 14th of May, at the dawn of the day With me gun on me shoulder to the woods I did stray In search of some game, if the weather proved fair To see can I could get a shot at the bonny black hare
I met a young girl there with her face as a rose Her skin was as pale as the lily that grows I said now young maiden, why ramble you so Can you tell me where the bonny black hare do go
The answer she gave me, her answer was no But under me apron they say it do grow So if you'll not deceive me, well I vow and declare We'll both go together and hunt the bonny black hare
I laid that girl down with her face to the sky I got out me ramrod, and me bullets likewise Saying, Wrap your legs round me, and dig in with your heels For the closer we get love, the better it feels
The birds, they were singing in the bushes and trees And the song that they sang was, oh she's easy to please I felt her heart quiver and I knew what I'd done I said have you had enough of me old sporting gun
The answer she gave me, her answer was nay It's not very often sportsmen like you come this way So if your powder is willing and your bullets are fair Why don't you keep firing at me bonny black hare
Well me powder is wasted and me bullets all gone Me ramrod is limp and I cannot fire on But if your back tomorrow morning, well I vow an declare We'll both again to hunt the bonny black hare