They came down from the mountain
They'd strayed too long from the fountain
And all the while, all the while they longed for us

But I won't betray
No I won't betray
No I won't betray our water
No I won't betray
No I won't betray
No I won't betray our water
Till the water's all long gone

And you, my sweet flower
And how you grew more sweet by the hour
And loath was I, loath was I to lose you

My tender rose, my limber rose
My slender loping daughter
My tender rose, my slender rose
My limber loping daughter
But my daughter's long long gone

They came down from the mountain
They'd strayed too long from the fountain
Oh my girl, oh my love I've lost you
But I won't betray
No I won't betray
No I won't betray our water
No I won't betray
No I won't betray
No I won't betray our water
Till the water's all long gone