One morning very early, one morning in the spring
I heard a maid in Bedlam who mournfully did sing
Her chains she rattled on her hands while sweetly thus sang she
She sang "I love my love because I know my love loves me"
"Cruel were his parents who sent my love to sea
And cruel, cruel was the ship that bore my love from me
Yet I love his parents since they're his, although they've ruined me
And I love my love because I know my love loves me"
"Should it please the pitying powers to call me to the sky
I'll claim a guardian angel's charge around my love to fly
To guard him from all dangers, how happy I should be
Because I love my love and I know my love loves me"
"I'll make a strawy garland, I'll make it wondrous fine
With roses, lilies, daisies I'll mix the eglantine
And I'll present it to my love when he returns home from sea
For I love my love and I know my love loves me"
"Oh if I were a little bird to build upon his breast
Or if I were a nightingale to sing my love to rest
To gaze upon his lovely eyes all my reward should be
For I love my love and I know my love loves me"
"Oh if I were an eagle to soar into the sky
I'd gaze around with piercing eyes where I my love might spy
But ah, unhappy maiden, that love you will never ever see
Yet I love my love and I know my love loves me"
I love my love because I know my love loves me
(I love my love and I know my love loves me)