Oh Katie dear, go ask your mama
If you can be a bride of mine
If she says yes, come back and tell me
If she says no, we'll run away
Oh Willie dear, there's no need asking
For she lies on her feather bed
And by her side is a silver dagger
To slay the one that I would wed

Oh Katie dear, go ask your papa
If you can be a bride of mine
If he says yes, come back and tell me
If he says no, we'll run away
Oh Willie dear, there's no need asking
He's in his room takin' a rest
And by his side is a silver dagger
To slay the one that I love best

Then he picked up that silver dagger
And plunged it through his troubled heart
Saying, "Goodbye Katie, goodbye darling
It's now forever we must part
Then she picked up that bloody dagger
And plunged it through her lily white breast
Saying, Goodbye papa, goodbye mama
I'll die for the one that I love best