"Hey love Willie, and how love Willie,
And Willie my love shall be;
They're thinking to sinder our lang love, Willie;
It's mair than man can dee.
"Ye'll mount me quickly on a steed,5
A milk-white steed or gray;
And carry me on to gude greenwood
Before that it be day."
He mounted her upon a steed,
He chose a steed o' gray;10
He had her on to gude greenwood
Before that it was day.
"O will ye gang to the cards, Meggie?
Or will ye gang wi' me?
Or will ye ha'e a bower woman,15
To stay ere it be day?"
"I winna gang to the cards," she said,
"Nor will I gae wi' thee,
Nor will I hae a bower woman,
To spoil my modestie.20
"Ye'll gie me a lady at my back,
An' a lady me beforn;
An' a midwife at my twa sides
Till your young son be born.
"Ye'll do me up, and further up,25
To the top o' yon greenwood tree;
For every pain myself shall ha'e,
The same pain ye maun drie."
The first pain that did strike sweet Willie,
It was into the side;30
Then sighing sair said sweet Willie,
"These pains are ill to bide."
The nextan pain that strake sweet Willie,
It was into the back;
Then sighing sair said sweet Willie,35
"These pains are women's wreck."