As I was going down the road one fine morning Oh the brown and the yellow ale I met with a young man without any warning Oh the love of my heart He asked me if the woman by my side was my daughter Oh the brown and the yellow ale When I said she was my wife his manner did not altar Oh the love of my heart He asked me if I'd lend her for an hour and a day Oh the brown and the yellow ale I said if she thinks it fair you may take her away Oh love of my heart She said you take the high road and I'll take off with him Oh the brown and the yellow ale And we'll meet again by the ford in the river Oh the love of my heart I was waiting by the ford for an hour and a quarter Oh the brown and the yellow ale When she came to me 'twas without shame I saw her Oh love of my heart When she told me her story I lay down and I died Oh the brown and the yellow ale She sent two men out for timber well she never even cried Oh love of my heart A board of alder and a board of holly Oh the brown and the yellow ale And two greater yards of a shroud all about me Oh the love of my heart Now if my own little mother had never been a woman Oh the brown and the yellow ale I would tale you many's another tale about women Oh love of my heart