I put my back against an oak Thinking it was some trusty tree But first it bent and then it broke And so did my false love to me
I put my hand into a bush Thinking some sweetest flower to find I pricked my finger to the bone Leaving the sweetest flower behind
O meeting is a pleasure And parting is a grief But an unconstant lover Is worse than any thief A thief will only rob you And take you all that you have saved But an unconstant lover Will bring you to the grave The grave it will decay you And turn you into dust There's not one in a thousand That you can trust They'll kiss you and they'll court you And tell to you more lies As the hairs upon your head, love Or the stars in the skies
Come all you young lovers A warning take by me Don't place your affection On a green willow tree
For the leaves they will wither The branches will decay And all your poor love Will soon fall away
We hung upon a hook Cut me to the bone Froze me with a kiss Laid upon your throne In the abattoirs of love You're in the serpent's jaws Love chains you to the floor Like fools you climbed so high It's further then to fall In the abattoirs of love Love's a tomb for fools, for fools