Way deep down in the greenwood, oh A-rap, tap, tapping on a window A young blade and a ramblin boy A-crossed the wide river to go The river was wide, the river was deep And all within the cottage seemed asleep
By and by, a young girl came Blinking sleep from her dark eye She put her finger to her lip So young and yet not so shy The river and deep, the river and wide He went to the scholary and step inside
I tell to ye a roven tale Or recite to you a fable If you will give to me some bread And a little hot soup if you're able The river is wide, the river is deep The ferryman my father is asleep
Then she put on a cloak of wool And a pair of fine boots of deerskin Lowering her pretty dark eye When he caught a glimpse of her fair skin The river is wide, the river is deep The ferryman my father is asleep
He laid her down in the greenwood, oh Squirrel and a rabbit did scamper He sang her the ancient a-roving tale And melody did enchant her The river is wide, the river is deep The ferryman her father lay asleep
They bid farewell by the riverbank He looked long into her dark eye An otter splashed and quickly sank Greylag goose in the gray sky The river is wide, the river is deep The ferryman her father lay asleep