come all you lads and lassies and listen to me a while i ll sing to you a verse or two that will surely make you smile concerning a young man i m going to tell you now who has lately came a courtin the maid of the sweet brown knowe this young man says my pretty maid will you come along with me we ll both fly off together and happy we will be we ll join our hands in wedlock bands as i m speaking with you now and i ll do my best endeavor for the maid of the sweet brown knowe this fair and fickle young thing she knew not what to say her eyes did shine like diamonds bright and merrily did play she says young man your love s subdued for i m not ready now and i ll spend another season at the foot of the sweet brown knowe the young man said my pretty maid how can you answer so see down in yonder valley where my crops do gently grow down in yonder valley i have horses men and plow and they re at the daily labor for the maid of the sweet brown knowe if they re at their daily labor kind sir t is not for me i ve heard of your behavior i have indeed said she there is an inn where you call in i ve heard the people say and you rap and you call and you pay for all and go home at the break of day if i rap and i call and i pay for all the money it is my own and i ll never spend your fortune for i hear that you got none you thought you had my poor heart won by meeting with me now but i ll leave you where i found you at the foot of the sweet brown knowe 