As I roved out one May morning
Down by the riverside
There I beheld a bold fisherman
Come rowing by the tide
Come rowing by the tide
There I beheld a bold fisherman
Come rowing by the tide

I stepped up to this bold fisherman
“How come you are fishing here?”
“I've come a-fishing for your sweet sake
All by the river clear
All by the river clear
I've come a-fishing for your sweet sake
All by the river clear”

He drew his boat up to the bank
And for her maid did spend
He took her by the lily-white hand
Which was his full intent
Which was his full intent
He took her by the lily-white hand
Which was his full intent

And he drew the cloak from off his back
And gently laid her down
There she beheld three chains of gold
Hang dangling three times round
Hang dangling three times round
There she beheld three chains of gold
Hang dangling three times round

She fell down on her bended knees
For mercy she implored
“In calling you a bold fisherman
When I fear you are some lord
When I fear you are some lord;
In calling you a bold fisherman
When I fear you are some lord”

“Rise up, rise up, my sweet pretty maid
From off your bended knee
There is not a word that you have said
Has least offended me
Has least offended me
There is not a word that you have said
Has least offended me”
And he took her by the lily-white hand
Saying, “Married we shall be
Then you shall have a bold fisherman
To row you on the sea
To row you on the sea
Then you shall have a bold fisherman
To row you on the sea”