The trees they grow high, The leaves they do grow green Many is the time my true love I've seen Many an hour I have watched him all alone He's young, But he's daily growing
Father, dear father, You've done me great wrong You have married me to a boy who is too young I'm twice twelve and he is but fourteen He's young, But he's daily growing
Daughter, dear daughter, I've done you no wrong I have married you to a great lord's son He'll make a lord for you to wait upon He's young, But he's daily growing
Father, dear father, if you see fit We'll send him to college for one year yet I'll tie blue ribbons all around his head To let the maidens know that he's married
One day I was looking o'er my father's castle wall I spied all the boys as playing with the ball My own true love was the flower of them all He's young, but he's daily growing
At the age of fourteen, he was a married man At the age of fifteen, the father of a son At the age of sixteen, his grave it was green And death had put an end to his growing