[Verse 1]
Willie sits in his stable door
And he's combing his coal-black steed
He's doubting on fair Margaret's love
And his heart begins to bleed
"Fetch corn unto my horse, mother
And meat to my man John
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
Before the night comes on"

[Verse 2]
"Stay at home with me, dear Willie
Oh, stay at home with me
And the very best cock in all the roost
Your own supper will be"
"Of all your cocks and all your roosts
I value not a pin
And I'll away to fair Margaret's bower
Before the night comes in"

[Verse 3]
"If you go to fair Margaret's bower
Without the leave of me
In the deepest part of the Clyde water
Then drowned you will be"
"The good steed that I ride upon
Cost me thrice thirty pound
And I'll put trust in his swift feet
To take me safe and sound"
[Verse 4]
He's ridden o'er yon high, high hill
And down yon dowie den
The rushin' in the Clyde water
Would've feared five hundred men
"Oh, roaring Clyde, you roar so loud
Your streams are wondrous strong
Make me a wreck as I come back
But spare me as I'm gone"

[Whistle Solo]

[Verse 5]
When he's got to fair Margaret's bower
He's turled low on the pin
"Rise up, rise up my May Margaret
Rise up and let me in"
"Oh, who is this at my bower door
Callin' May Margaret's name?"
"Oh, it's only your first love, little William
This night come to her home"

[Verse 6]
"Open your gates this night
Oh, open and let me in
For my boots they are full of the Clyde water
And I'm frozen to the skin"
"My barns are full of corn, Willie
My stable's full of hay
And my bowers are full of gentlemen
They won't remove till day"
[Verse 7]
"Fare thee well to you, May Margaret
Fare thee well and adieu
I have won my mother's own curse
By comin' this night to you"
He's ridden o'er yon high, high hill
And down yon dowie den
And the rushing in the Clyde water
Took Willie's horse from him

[Verse 8]
The very hour this young man sank
Into the part so deep
Up and awoke Miss May Margaret
Out from her dreary sleep
"Come here, come here, my mother dear
Read to me my dream
I dreamed my love was at our gate
And no one let him in"

[Verse 9]
"Lie there, lie there, my May Margaret
Lie there and take your rest
For since your love was at our gate
It's but two quarters past"
Nimbly, nimbly rose she up
To the water's brim
And the louder that this young girl cried
The louder grew the wind
[Verse 10]
The very first step that she went in
She's up unto her feet
"Oh and alas!" this young girl cried
"Your water's wondrous deep"
The very next step that she went in
She's up unto her knees
Cried she, "I would go farther in
If I my true lover could see"

[Verse 11]
The next step that she went in
She's up unto her chin
In the deepest part of the Clyde water
She found sweet William in
Saying, "You have had a cruel mother, Willie
And I have had another
And now we'll sleep in the Clyde water
Like sister and like brother"
Saying, "You've had a cruel mother, Willie
And I have had another
And now we'll sleep in the Clyde water
Like sister and like brother"

[Outro]
Da dee dee da
Da da
Da da dee
Da dee dee da
Da dee dee
Da dee da da