The Verdant Braes of Screen

As I roved out, on a May morning
On the verdant braes of Screen
I set my back unto a hawthorn tree
To view the sun in the west country
And the dew on the forest green

There I spied, a young man bold 
And a maiden by his side
He was dark as the berry brown red
And she all pale and wan for to see
All pale and wan for to see

Oh come and sit down by my side
And be a love of mine
For all the young birds have come and gone
Since I my true love have seen
Since I my true love have seen

Oh I’ll not sit down by your side
Nor be a love of thine
For I have heard you love a  Connaught maid
And your heart’s no longer mine she said
And your heart’s no longer mine

But I’ll go climb a high high tree
And rob a little bird’s nest
And I’ll bring back whate’er I do find
For the girl that I love best she said
For the girl that I love the best

Well I’ll not heed what an old man says
For his days they are well nigh done
And I’ll not heed what a young man might say
For he’s fair to many’s a one she said
For he’s fair to many’s a one.