As I roved out one evening fair
By the verdant braes of Screen
I set my back to a hawthorn tree
To view the sun in the west country
And the dew on the forest green
A lad I spied by Abhann's side
And a maiden by his knee
And he was as dark as the very brown wood
And she all whey and wan to see
All whey and wan was she
Oh sit you down on the grass, he said
On the dewy grass so green
For the wee birds all have come and gone
Since I my true love have seen, he said
Since I my true love have seen
Then I'll not sit on the grass, she said
Nor be a love of thine
For I hear you love a Connaught maid
And your heart's no longer mine, she said
And your heart's no longer mine
And I will climb a high, high tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest
And back I'll bring whatever I do find
To the arms that I love best, she said
To the arms that I love best