On the fourteenth of May at the dawn of the day
With me gun on me shoulder to the woods I did stray
In search of some game if the weather proved fair
To see can I get a shot at the bonny black hare
I met a young girl there, her face like the rose
Her skin was as fair as the lily that blows
Says I "Me fair maiden, why ramble you so?
Can you tell me where the bonny black hare do go?"
The answer she gave me, oh the answer was "No
But under me apron they say it do go
And if you'll not deceive me I'll vow and declare
We'll both go together to hunt the bonny black hare"
I laid this girl down with her face to the sky
I took out me ramrod and me bullets likewise
Saying "Wrap your legs round me, dig in with your heels
For the closer we get, love, the better it feels"
The birds they were singing in the bushes and trees
And the song that they sang was "She's easy to please"
I felt her heart quiver and I knew what I'd done
Says I "Have you had enough of me old sporting gun?"
The answer she gave me, oh, the answer was "Nay
It's not often young sportsmen like you come this way
But if your powder is good and your bullets are fair
Why don't you keep firing at the bonny black hare?"
"Me powder's all wet and me bullets all spent
And I can't fire a shot for it's choked at the vent
And I'll be back in the morning if you are still here
We'll both go together to hunt the bonny black hare"