Come all ye fair and tender maidens Take warning how you court young men They're like a star of a summer's morning First they appear and then they're gone. They'll tell to you some loving story They'll swear to you their love is true Straightway they'll go and court another And that's the love that they had for you. If I'd a known before I courted That love it was such a killin' thing I'd lock my heart in a box of golden And fastened it up with a silver chain. O do you remember our days of courtin' When your head lay upon my breast You could make me believe with the falling of your eyes That the sun rose in the west. I wish I was a little sparrow And I had wings and I could fly I'd fly away to my own true lover And when he speaks I won't deny. But I am not no little sparrow I have no wings neither can I fly I'll sit right down in my grief and sorrow And let my troubles pass me by. Come all ye fair and tender maidens Take warning how you court young men They're like a star of a summer's morning First they appear and then they're gone.