[Verse 1]
Oh, Johnny rose on a May morning,
Called for water to wash his hands,
Saying âBring to me my two grey dogs,
That lie bound in iron bands.â
When Johnnyâs mother she heard of this,
She wrung her hands full sore,
Says âJohnny, for your venison
To the green woods do not go.â
[Verse 2]
âFor there are seven foresters in Esslemont,
And this you know full well,
For one small drop of your heartâs blood
They would ride to the gates of Hell.â
âOh, thereâs many men are my friends, Mother,
Though many more are my foe.
And betide me well or betide me ill,
A-hunting I will go.â
[Verse 3]
So Johnny has taken his good bent bow,
His arrows one by one,
And heâs away to Monymusk
For to bring the dun deer down.
[Instrumental]
[Verse 4]
Oh, Johnny shot and the dun deer rose,
Heâs wounded her in the side.
And between the water and the woods,
The two dogs laid her pride.
And they ate so much of the venison,
They drank so much of the blood,
That Johnny and his two grey dogs
Fell asleep as if they had been dead.
[Verse 5]
And by there came a sly old man,
A silly old man was he,
And heâs away to Esslemont
For to tell on young Johnny.
âAs I came in by Monymusk,
And down among yon scrogs,
It was there I spied the bonniest youth
Lying sleeping between two dogs.â
[Verse 6]
âAnd the buttons that were on his coat
Were of the gold so good,
And the two grey dogs that he lay between,
Their mouths they were died with blood.â
And up and spoke the first forester,
He was headsman over them all,
âCan this be Johnny of Bradyâs Lea?
Unto him we will crawl.â
[Verse 7]
And the very first shot that the foresters fired,
It wounded him in the thigh,
The very next shot that the foresters fired,
His heartâs blood blinded his eye.
Then up woke Johnny from out of his sleep,
An angry man was he.
He says âThe wildest wolf in all this wood
Would not have done so by me.â
[Verse 8]
And heâs leaned his back against an oak,
His foot against a stone,
And he has fired on the seven foresters,
Heâs killed them all but one.
And heâs broken seven of this manâs ribs,
His arm and his collarbone,
And he has set him on to his horse,
To bring the tidings home.
[Verse 9]
N.C.
Johnnyâs good bent bow is broke,
N.C.
And his two grey dogs are slain,
N.C.
And his body lies in Monymusk,
N.C.
And his hunting days are done.