[Verse 1]
"How came that blood on your shirt sleeve?
Oh, dear love, tell me"
"Well, it is the blood of the old grey mare
That ploughed the fields for me, me, me
That ploughed the fields for me"
"It does look too pale for the old grey mare
That ploughed the fields for thee, thee, thee
That ploughed the fields for thee"

[Verse 2]
"How came that blood on your shirt sleeve?
Oh, dear love, tell me"
"Oh, it is the blood of the old grey hound
That chased the fox for me, me, me
That chased the fox for me"
"It does look too pale for the old grey hound
That chased the fox for thee, thee, thee
That chased the fox for thee"

[Verse 3]
"How came that blood on your shirt sleeve?
Oh, dear love, tell me"
"Oh, it is the blood of my brother-in-law
That went away with me, me, me
That went away with me"
[Verse 4]
"And it's what will you do now, my love?
Oh, dear love, tell me"
"I'll set my foot on yonder ship
And I'll sail across the sea, sea, sea
Sail across the sea"

[Verse 5]
"And it's when will you be back, my love?
Oh, dear love, tell me"
"When the moon sinks yonder in the sycamore tree
And that will never be, be, be
And that will never be"