4. Green Grass Grows Bonny
Traditional

I wonder what is keeping my true love this night
Oh I wonder what is keeping him out of my sight
Tis little he knows of the pain I endure
Or he would not stay from me this night I am sure

Oh love are you coming my pain to advance?
Or love are you waiting for a far better chance?
Or have you a sweetheart laid by you in store?
Or are you comin’ for to tell me you love me no more?

Oh love I’m not comin’ your pain to advance
Nor love am I waiting for a far better chance
But I have a sweetheart laid by me in store
And I’m comin’ for to tell you I love you no more

For I’ve gold in my pocket and pain in my heart
But I can’t love a young man who has two sweethearts
You loved me just lightly like the dew on thorn
Comes down in the evenin’, goes away in the morn

For I can love lightly and I can love strong
And I can love the old love ‘til the new love comes along
I just said that I loved you for to put your mind at ease
But when far away from you, I’ll love whom I please

For green grass grows bonny, spring water runs clear
I weary, how I weary when I think on my dear
You were my first and only false love and it’s now I do rue,
For the stronger I loved you the falser you grew

So come all of you fair maids take this warnin’ from me
And never build your nest at the top of a high tree
For the leaves they will wither and the branches decay
And like a false hearted young man, will soon fade away