The grass in the meadow, the reeds by the mere
The sad boom of the bittern is all that I hear
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore
Cry, "You never shall sit by your loved ones no more
You never shall sit by your loved ones no more"

When I was a young girl, the world did seem gay
But these cruel hard times do drive comfort away
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore
Cry, "You nеver shall dance with your sweetheart no morе
You never shall dance with your sweetheart no more"

Once I gathered wild flowers in the sweet countryside
But my garlands have withered, my posies have died
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore
Cry, "You never shall lie with your husband no more
You never shall lie with your husband no more"

Once I went a-courting, but now my man's gone
Once I was a mother but now I'm alone
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore
Cry, "You never shall walk with your menfolk no more
You never shall walk with your menfolk no more"

Come all you young women that is free from all care
Don't you never get married; all sorrow lies there
And the leaves in the woodland and the gulls by the shore
Cry, "The heart that is given no man may restore
The heart that is given no man may restore"
Now the fields are all empty, the hedgerows are bare
Only wild desolation do I now find there
I'll go down to the river to ease all my pain
And who knows, but I might find my dear ones again
Who knows, but I might find my dear ones again