[Verse 1]
A bold young farmer courted me
He gained my heart and liberty
He gained my heart and good free will
I must confess I love him still
I must confess I love him still

[Chorus]
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
A maid again I ne'er shall be
For that young farmer lay with me

[Verse 2]
There is a house in yonder town
Where my love goes and sits him down
He takes a strange girl on his knee
He tells her things he won't tell me
He tells her things he won't tell me

[Chorus]
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
A maid again I ne'er shall be
For that young farmer lay with me
[Verse 3]
There is a bird in yonder tree
Some say he's blind and cannot see
I wish it was the same with me
When first I met your company
When first I met your company

[Chorus]
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
A maid again I ne'er shall be
For that young farmer lay with me
For that young farmer lay with me

[Verse 4]
I wish my little babe was born
And I poor girl was dead and gone
And then from love I will be free
With green grass growing over me
With green grass growing over me

[Chorus]
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
A maid again I ne'er shall be
For that young farmer lay with me
[Verse 1]
A bold young farmer courted me
He gained my heart and liberty
He gained my heart and good free will
I must confess I love him still
I must confess I love him still

[Chorus]
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
A maid again I ne'er shall be
For that young farmer lay
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I was a maid again
A maid again I ne'er shall be
For that young farmer lay with me