It's of a jolly plowboy was plowing up his land
With his horses in good order to keep
He whistled and he sang as the plow, she jogged along
His intention was to court a pretty maid, pretty maid
His intention was to court a pretty maid
He ended his song as the plow, she jogged along
Saying, "this fair maid's far above my degree
If her parents, they would know, they would prove my overthrow
And the first place they would send me is the sea, is the sea
And the first place they would send me is the sea"
When her ol' father knew she was courted on the plain
He vowed he would send him o'er the sea
A press gang then arose and they set my love on board
And they sent him to the war to be slain, to be slain
And they sent him to the war to be slain
She's dressed herself in a suit of men's clothes
Her pockets well-lined with bright gold
And as she walked down the street with her red-rosy cheeks
She looked just like a young sailor bold, sailor bold
She looked just like a young sailor bold
The first one that she met was the captain of the ship
And unto him she told all her woe
Saying, "they took from me my joy and my own plowboy
And they sent him to the war to be slain, to be slain
And they sent him to the war to be slain"
She's pulled out a purse of the bright, shining gold
Saying, "here's fifty bright guineas and more"
And she's freely laid it down for her bonnie plowboy
And she's got the young man she adored, she adored
And she's got the young man she adored