I shall tell of a hunter
Whose life was undone
By the cruel hand of evil
At the setting of the sun

His arrow was loosed
And it flew through the dark
His true love was slain
As the shaft found its mark

She'd her apron
Wrapped about her
And he took her for a swan
And it so, and alas
It was she, Polly Vaughn

He ran up beside her
And found it was she
He turned away his head
For he could not bear to see

He lifted her up
And found she was dead
A fountain of tears
For his true love he shed
She'd her apron
Wrapped about her
And he took her for a swan
And it so, and alas
It was she, Polly Vaughn

He bore her away
To his home by the sea
And "father, oh father
I murdered poor Polly
I've killed my fair love
And the flower of her life
I'd always intended
That she be my wife"

She'd her apron
Wrapped about her
And he took her for a swan
And it so, and alas
It was she, Polly Vaughn

He rode near the place
Where his true love was slain
He wept bitter tears
But his cries were all in vain
He look on the lake
A swan glided by
The sun slowly sank
In the grey of the sky

She'd her apron
Wrapped about her
And he took her for a swan
And it so, and alas
It was she, Polly Vaughn