Baring-Gould collected one verse and the tune for this cheeky little song from William Kerswell of Two Bridges on Dartmoor in 1890. In the following year he collected a fuller version from William Nicholls of nearby Whitchurch which we have used to complete the song. Baring-Gould also copied into his manuscript a published text of the song called The Shady Tree, which was published in The Maid of the Mill Garland of 1770. Mary Humphreys has another version of the song from Newfoundland which she calls Pride of the Season.

 

As I was a walking one midsummer morn

A walking and talking along the highway

O there I beheld a fair pretty maid

A sitting all under a green willow tree

 

I stepped up to her and said, Pretty maiden

No other fair virgin has ever won me

Since I am a bachelor, you are a maiden

Then married together tomorrow we’ll be

 

She said, Pretty Sir, you are better deserving

I am a poor damsel of lowly degree

Your family all will be angry and scolding

So low in my station contented I’ll be

 

She said, Pretty Sir, you are rich and have houses

I have not a portion to bring as my fee

I am but a humble and innocent Virgin

So married unto you I never can be

 

She sat herself down and he sat down beside her

Beneath the green branches and rifled her charms

With kisses so sweet and with tender embraces

And asleep they both fell lock’d in each others’ arms

 

They sleep-ed together for space of an hour

All under the shade of the green leafy tree

And when he awaked and found her no virgin

Be married unto you I never will be

 

Come all you fair maidens I pray you take warning

Nor trust in young man of whatever degree

For when he has plucked the fruits of your garden

O then he will leave you, as he has left me