As I walked out one evening fair
By the verdant braes of Screen
I leaned my back to a hawthorne tree
To see the view of the west country
The view of the forest green
A lad I spied on the open strand
And a maiden by his knee
And he was dark as the berry brown red
And she all wae and wan to see
All pale and wan was she
Oh sit you down on the grass says he
On the dewy grass so green
For the wee birds all have come and gone
Since I my own true love have seen
Since I my love have seen
Oh I'll not sit on the grass says she
There will be no love on the banks
For I hear you love a Kilkenny maid
And your heart's no longer mine she said
And your heart's no longer mine
Oh I'll not heed what an old man says
For his days are well nigh done
And I'll not heed what a young man says
For he's fair for many's the one she says
And he's fair for many's the one
But I will climb a high high tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest
And I will bring whatever I do find
To the arms that I love best
To the arms that I love the best