Oh Katie dear, go ask your mother
If you can be a bride of mine
If she says yes, come back and tell me
If she says no, we'll run away
Oh Willie dear, there's no
She's in her room takin' a rest
And by her side is a silver dagger
To slay the one that I would wail
Oh Katie dear, go ask your father
If you can be a bride of mine
If he says yes, come back and tell me
If he says no, we'll run away
Oh Willie dear, there's no use nestin'
He's in his room takin' a rest
And by his side there's a golden dagger
To slay the one that I love best
Then he picked up this golden dagger
And stored it through his troubled heart
Saying, "Goodbye Katie, goodbye darlin'
And that's the time has come to part"
Then she picked up this bloody dagger
And stored it through her lily white breast
Saying, "goodbye papa, goodbye mama
I'll die for the one that I love best"