There was a jolly British tar
Who met a milkmaid bonnie
He said, "How beautiful you are!"
With a hey and a nonny
With a hey and a nonny

"Such golden hair I ne'er did see
With lips to sham the cherry
Oh buxom milkmaid, marry me!"
With a down and a derry
With a down and a derry

"Our hearts could rhyme," said she
"'Tis flattered I'm," said she
"But oh, ah me, you see, you see, you see, you see
I happen to be a mother of three
A wife already and mother of three
Of three, of three, of three, of three, of three
The mother of three!"

The jolly tar, he laughed a laugh
"'Tis for the best, my bonnie
That you won't be my better half."
With a hey and a nonny
With a hey and a nonny
"I near forgot on seeing you
That I've a wife in Kerry
In Spain and also Timbuktu."
With a down and a derry
With a down and a derry

"You've got me thinkin' twice
Goodbye to shoes and rice
For oh, ah me, you see, you see, you see, you see
I happen to be, I happen to be
The husband of three
A-spliced already and husband of three
Of three, of three, of three, of three, of three
The husband of three!"