The Constant Farmer’s Son

There was a pretty fair maid, in London she did dwell
She was comely fair and handsome,
Her parents loved her well.
She was wooed by lord and nobleman, but all their love was vain.
There was but one, the farmer's son, Who Mary's heart did gain.

Long time young William courted her, they fixed the wedding day.
Her parents they did give consent, but her brothers they did say,
“There is a lord who has pledged his word and him she shall not shun.
First we’ll betray and then we’ll slay the constant farmer’s son.”

There was a fair not far from town, her brothers they did say.
They asked young William’s company to spend with them the day.
But back returning home again they swore his race he had run,
And with a stake the life did take of the constant farmer’s son.

And then returning home again to Mary they did say,
“Oh, think no more of your false love, but let him go his way,
Oh, think no more of your false love; he has courted some other one
And we the same have come to tell of the constant farmer’s son.

As Mary on her pillow lay she dreamed a horrid dream,
She dreamed she saw her own true love down by a purling stream.
So Mary rose, put on her clothes, to meet her love did run.
In yonder vale he is cold and pale, her constant farmer’s son.

She kissed him once, she kissed him twice, she kissed him ten times o’er,
While bitter tears down from her eyes they constantly did pour.
She gathered green leaves from the trees to keep him from the sun
And night and day she passed away with her constant farmer’s son.

(cont'd...)