As I roved out one May morning Down by the riverside There I beheld a bold fisherman Come rowing by the tide Come rowing by the tide There I beheld a bold fisherman Come rowing by the tide
I stepped up to this bold fisherman “How come you are fishing here?” “I've come a-fishing for your sweet sake All by the river clear All by the river clear I've come a-fishing for your sweet sake All by the river clear”
He drew his boat up to the bank And for her maid did spend He took her by the lily-white hand Which was his full intent Which was his full intent He took her by the lily-white hand Which was his full intent
And he drew the cloak from off his back And gently laid her down There she beheld three chains of gold Hang dangling three times round Hang dangling three times round There she beheld three chains of gold Hang dangling three times round
She fell down on her bended knees For mercy she implored “In calling you a bold fisherman When I fear you are some lord When I fear you are some lord; In calling you a bold fisherman When I fear you are some lord”
“Rise up, rise up, my sweet pretty maid From off your bended knee There is not a word that you have said Has least offended me Has least offended me There is not a word that you have said Has least offended me”
And he took her by the lily-white hand Saying, “Married we shall be Then you shall have a bold fisherman To row you on the sea To row you on the sea Then you shall have a bold fisherman To row you on the sea”