i wish my love was a red red rose growing in yon garden fair and i to be the gardener of her i would take care there s not a month throughout the year that my love i d renew i d garnish her with flowers fine sweet william thyme and rue i wish i was a butterfly i d light on my love s breast and if i was a blue cuckoo i d sing my love to rest and if i was a nightingale i d sing the daylight clear i d sit and sing for you molly for once i loved you dear i wish i was in dublin town and seated on the grass in my right hand a jug of punch and on my knee a lass i d call for liquor freely and i d pay before i d go i d roll my molly in my arms let the wind blow high or low