The trees they grow high, and the leaves they do grow green Many is the time my true love I've seen Many an hour I have watched him all alone He's young, but he's daily growing Father, dear father, you've done me great wrong You have married me to a boy who is too young I'm twice twelve and he is but fourteen He's young, but he's daily growing Daughter, dear daughter, I've done you no wrong I have married you to a great lord's son He'll be a man to you when I am dead and gone He's young, but he's daily growing Father, dear father, if you see fit We'll send my love to college for another year yet I'll tie blue ribbons all around his head To let the ladies know that he's married One day I was looking o'er my father's castle wall I saw all the boys a-playing at the ball My own true love was the flower of them all He's young, but he's daily growing At the age of fourteen, he was a married man Age of fifteen, the father of a son Age of sixteen, on his grave the grass was green Cruel death had put an end to his growing I'll make my love a shroud, at the hole in so fine Every stitch I put in it, the tears come trickling down Once i had a true love, but not narrow one But i'll watch for his son, 'cause he's growing