As I roved out one May morning,
To take a pleasant walk;
I sat myself down by an old stone wall,
To hear two lovers talk.
To hear what they might say, my dear,
To hear what they might say;
That I might know a little more about love,
Before I go away.
Oh, P stands for Paddy, I suppose,
J's for my love, John;
And the W stands for false Willy-O,
But Johnny is the fairest man.
Come sit you down beside me, he said,
Together on the green;
For it's been three-quarters of a year or more,
Since together we have been.
I'll not sit down beside you, she said,
Now or no other time;
For I hear you have another little girl,
And your heart's no longer mine.
No, your heart's no longer mine, my dear,
Your heart's no longer mine;
For it's just three-quarters of a year or more,
Your heart's no longer mine.
P stands for Paddy, I suppose,
J's for my love, John;
And the W stands for false Willy-O,
But Johnny is the fairest man.
Johnny is the fairest man, my dear,
Johnny is the fairest man;
And I don't care what anybody says,
Johnny is the fairest man.
Now, I'll go up the tall, tall tree,
And rob the wild bird's nest;
And when I come down, I'll give a little love,
To the girl that I love best.
To the girl that I love best, my dear,
The girl that I love best;
And when I come down, I'll give a little love,
To the girl that I love best.
P stands for Paddy, I suppose,
J's for my love, John;
And the W stands for false Willy-O,
But Johnny is the fairest man.
P stands for Paddy, I suppose,
J for her love, John;
And now I know a little more about love,
Before I travel on.