As I Was Walking
AS I WAS WALKING (Mary Lozier)
As I was walking one bright May morning
Down by the riverside
I spied a fair young couple a-courting
It filled my heart with pride.
He wooed her gently as lovers have
Since this old world begun.
He asked her if she would marry him
She answered, “I am too young.”
“The younger you are, the better,” he said
“The younger, the better for me.
For I will swear and I will vow
I’ll marry no other but thee.”
They spent the day as lovers do
In sporting and in play
As evening come, his conquest won,
Close in his arms she lay.
The night wore on and morning came
It dawned so bright and clear.
That man arose, put on his clothes
Said, “Fare you well, my dear.”
“Is this the promise you made to me
Down by the riverside?
You promised you would marry me
And make me your own dear bride.”
“This isn’t the promise I made to you
Down by the riverside
For I could never marry a girl
As easily fooled as you.”
“So go back to your father’s house
Sit down and cry your fill
Whenever you think of the way I’ve done
But blame your own free will.”
There’s trees that grow in father’s garden
Some folk call them yews
There’s fish that die from swallowing flies
There’s no young man’ll prove true.