As I Roved Out

As I roved out one bright May morning
To view the purple heather and flowers gay
Who should I spy but my own true lover
As she sat under yon willow tree.

I took off my hat and I did salute her
I did salute her most courageously
When she turned around and the tears fell from her eyes
Saying, "False young man, you have deluded me".

Three diamond rings for love I gave you
Three diamond rings to wear on your right hand
But the vows you made, love, you went and broke them
And married the lassie that had the land.

If I married the lassie that had the land, my love
'Tis that I'll rue until the day I die
But when fortune calls few men can shun it
I was a blind fool was I.

Now at night when I go to my bed of slumber
The thoughts of my true love run in my mind
When I turned around to embrace my darling
Instead of gold 'tis brass I find.

And I wish the Queen would call home her armies
From the West Indies, America and Spain
And every man to his homeland would run
And I in hope that we'd meet again.