Once there was a shepherd lad kept sheep upon the hill

And he's laid his pipe and his crook aside and there he's slept his fill

He woke up on a riverbank on a fine May morning

And there he spied a lady swimming in the clothes that she was born in

So he raised his head from his green bed and he approached the maid

"Put on your clothes my dear " he says "and do not be afraid

It's fitter for a lady fair to sew a silken seam

Than to rise on a fair May morning and swim against the stream."

"Well if you'll not touch my mantle and you'll leave my clothes alone

Then I'll give you all the money sir that you can carry home."

"I'll not touch your mantle and I'll leave your clothes alone

But I'll take you out of the clear water my dear to be my own"

And he's taken her out of the clear water and he's rowed her in his arms

"Put on your clothes my dear " he says "and hide your bounteous charms."

He's put her on a milk white steed himself upon another

And it's all along the way they rode like sister and like brother.

She rode up to her father's gate and she's rapped upon the pin

And ready stood a porter there to let the fair maid in.

When the gates were opened it's so nimbly she stepped in

She said "Kind sir you are a fool without and I'm a maid within

So fare thee well my modest boy I thank you for your care

But had you done as you desired I'd never have left you there.

I will sew no silken seam on a fine May morning.

You can bide your time till your time runs out so take this as fair warning.

I will sew no silken seam on a fine May morning.

You can bide your time till your time runs out so take this as fair warning."