As I went to our farmers dance
on this cold, cold eve of February
so there I did meet my sweet, sweet man
and there I did meet his fair and true lady.

And there they came in all a smiles,
and there they did sit to talk a while,
and then he placed his arm around
that lady's noble and gentle frame,
so that he could hold her tight,
as he has done to me
on many a cold and windy night.
And there he kissed her sweet berry lips
for all around to see,
with same lips that once had kissed mine,
with same revelry.

And there was a dancing and a merry making,
and there was laughter and ale a flowing,
as he took her round the floor
showing off his brand new love to all.

And as he was holding her ho so tightly,
swirling and swooning her with the dance,
with the corner of his eye, all a knowing and a strutting,
he struck me with his glance,
quickly turned away and smiled to his beautiful new bride,
then slyly looked to me once more,
showing me his fresh new catch, there, caught so sweetly in his arms,
so sweetly in his arms as I had been not long before,
and he there now, willingly, stabbing me to the core,
as silently I was watching and quietly I was standing,
my heart shattered in the shadow of the barn yard door.

Well that was a cruel, cruel thing,
a cruel, cruel view to behold,
and he is a cruel, cruel man,
that sweet man of mine of old.

And those are cruel, cruel lips,
those that will kiss me never the more,
and you are a cruel, cruel man,
as never there was before.

And I wish, I wish, I wasn't here,
knowing I'll love you for ever more.

And up in the fields of yonder hill
I'll never again lie me down by your side,
never again with my true love be
with wild windflowers placed in my hair,
placed by your strong hands there.
And to think, to think, ho woe is me,
only in my memories will you love me still.

And this is a cruel, cruel fate
that has been placed here at my door.
and you are a cruel, cruel man,
and I damn you for ever more.

For all the lies you whispered to me,
locked away in my heart for eternity,
I damn you for ever more.

And never again will we walk homeward bound,
never again go down to the old orchard we found.

Never go a courting with the man I love by my side,
filled with the joys of all your promises
of togetherness until we died.

and I wish, I wish, I did not love you so,
and how I wish, I wish, that not you were
the cruel, cruel man that you are.