If you’d seen my dearest, his eyes are the clearest His lips are as red blood that’s new-dropped on snow He is tall, neat and slender, his hands warm and tender He’s my greenwood laddie wherever I go
By yon shady bower we spent many’s the hour Plucking the flowers from the cool crystal shore Where his sweetly stolen kisses met my fondest wishes He’s my greenwood laddie and the boy I adore
Now if I had the jewels of the East or West Indies Or all of the gold of the African shore I would give them all freely to be with my treasure My greenwood laddie and the boy I adore
My companions, my darling, they spite you and scorn you Because you’ve no promise of roses ‘round the door But the more that they slight you, the more I’ll invite you To be my greenwood laddie till time is no more.