As once I roved out very early For to view the green meadows in Spring It was down by the side of a river I heard a fair damsel do sing As I stood in completest amazement I gazed on that lady so fair She seemed to me brighter than Venus Did the maid with the bonny brown hair. Her skin was as pale as the lily, And her lips like the red rose in June Her two eyes they did sparkle like diamonds And her breath had the sweetest perfume; And a dress of the bright shining velvet Was the dress that this fair maid did wear, And gems of bright gold and pure silver Were entwined in her bonny brown hair. For a long time we courted together, Till she named our bright wedding day Then one day while conversing together Very kindly to me she did say: "Oh, I have another more kinder My land and my fortune to share, So farewell to you now, and forever," Said the maid with the bonny brown hair. And as I walked down by the harbour, I spied a ship from the proud land of Spain, They were singing and dancing together, Oh, but I had a heart full of pain; And as the ship sailed down the river I spied my old sweetheart so fair, Quite content in the arms of another Was the maid with the bonny brown hair.