"What's that blood all on your shirt?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, that's the blood of my own greyhound
He wouldn't run with me, with me
He wouldn't run with me"

[Verse 2]
"Oh, it's too pale for your greyhound's blood
Son, come tell to me"
"Then it's the blood of my own grey mare
He wouldn't hunt with me, with me
He wouldn't hunt with me"

[Verse 3]
"Oh, it's too red for your grey mare's blood
Son, come tell to me"
"Then it's the blood of my own dear brother
He wouldn't ride with me, with me
He wouldn't ride with me"

[Verse 4]
"And what were you all quarreling about?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, it’s all about a little holly bush
And it might have made a tree, a tree
Might have made a tree"
[Verse 5]
"And what will you do when your father comes to know?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, I'll set sail in a little sailing boat
I'll sail across the sea, the sea
I'll sail across the sea"

[Verse 6]
"And what will you do with your pretty little wife?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, she'll sail along in my little sailing boat
She'll sail along with me, with me
She'll sail along with me"

[Verse 7]
"And what will you do with your eldest son?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, I'll leave him here for you to raise
Rock all upon your knee, your knee
To rock all upon your knee"

[Verse 8]
"And when will you come back again?
Son, come tell to me"
"When the sun and the moon they're on yonder hill
I know that will never never be, never be
Know that will never never be"