As I walked out one summer's morn
Saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn
His coat was black, and his head was bare
When the wind shook him the crows took up into the air

Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me
Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me if you could
But you're only a bag of rags in an overall
That the wind sways and the crows fly away and the corn grows tall

As I walked out one winter's day
Saw an old man hanging from a pole in a field of clay
His coat was gone, and his head hung low
Till the wind flung it up to look, wrung its neck and let it go

How could you lay me down and love me?
How could you lay me down and love me now?
For you're only a bag of bones in an overall
That the wind blows and the kids throw stones at the thing on the pole

…

As I walked out one fine spring day
Saw twelve jolly dons decked out in the blue and the gold so gay
And to a stake they tied a child newborn
Then the bells were rung and the songs were sung and they sowed their corn
Now you can lay me down and love me
Now you can lay me down and love me if you will
But you're only a bag of rags in an overall
But the wind blew and the sun shone too and the corn grew tall

As I walked out one summer's morn
Saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn…