I have been rambling all the night And the best part of the day And now I am returning back again I have brought you a branch of may A branch of may my dear I say Before your door I stand It's nothing but a sprout but it's well-budded out By the work of Our Lord's hands Go down in your dairy and fetch me a cup A cup of your sweet cream And if I should live to tarry the town I'll call on you next year The hedges and fields they are so green As green as any leaf Our Heavenly Father waters them With His heavenly dew so sweet When I am dead and in my grave And covered with cold clay The nightingale will sit and sing And pass the time away Take a Bible in your hand And read a chapter through And when the Day of Judgement comes The Lord will think on you I have a bag on my right arm Drawn with silken string And nothing does it want but a little silver To line it well within And now my song is almost done I can no longer stay God bless you all, both great and small I wish you a joyful May