[Verse 1]
As I was a-walkin' by the banks o the Ugie
Come, my dear friends, and this story I'll relate
I spied a dear comrade all dressed in white flannel
Dressed in white flannel and cruel was his fate

[Verse 2]
Oh, the mercury was beating, the limestone was reeking
His tongue, all in flames, hung over his chin
With a hole in his bosom, his teeth were a-closin'
Bad luck to the girlie fa gied him the glim

[Chorus]
And had she but told me, oh, when she dishonoured me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
Now I am a young man cut down in my prime

[Verse 3]
My parents they warned me and oft times they chided
With those young flash girls do not sport and play
I never listened, no, I never heeded
I just carried on in my own wicked way

[Chorus]
And had she but told me, oh, when she dishonoured me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
Now I am a young man cut down in my prime
[Verse 4]
It's down on the corner two flash girls were talking
One to the other did whisper and say
"There goes that young man who once was so jolly
Now for his sins his poor body must pay."

[Chorus]
And had she but told me, oh, when she dishonoured me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
Now I am a young man cut down in my prime

[Verse 5]
Oh, doctor, dear doctor, before your departure
Take all these bottles of mercury away
Send for the minister to say a prayer over me
So they can lay my poor body in the clay

[Chorus]
And had she but told me, oh, when she dishonoured me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
Now I am a young man cut down in my prime

[Verse 6]
Now get you six fellows to carry me coffin
Six pretty fair maids to bear up my pall
Give each of them there a bunch of red roses
When they pass by me, they'll not know the smell
[Chorus]
And had she but told me, oh, when she dishonoured me
Had she but told me of it in time
I might have been cured by those pills of white mercury
Now I am a young man cut down in my prime