Pretty fair maid was in her garden
When a stranger came a-riding by
He came up to the gate and called her
Said pretty fair maid would you be my bride
Said I ve a true love who s in the army
And he s been gone for seven long years
And if he s gone for seven years longer
I ll still be waiting for him here
Perhaps he s on some watercourse drowning
Perhaps he s on some battlefield slain
Perhaps he s to a fair girl married
And you may never see him again
Well if he s drowned, I hope he s happy
Or if he s on some battlefield slain
And if he s to some fair girl married
I ll love the girl that married him
He took his hand out of his pocket
And on his finger he wore a golden ring
And when she saw that band a-shining
A brand new song her heart did sing
And then he threw his arms all around her
Kisses gave her one, two, three
Said I m your true and loving soldier
That s come back home to marry thee
Pretty fair maid was in her garden
When a stranger came a-riding by
He came up to the gate and called her
Said pretty fair maid would you be my bride