The Old Garden Gate

As I walked out one May morning
So early in the Spring
I placed my back against the old garden gate
For to hear my true love sing
Come now, my love, and sit down by me
Where the leaves are springing green
It’s now very near the three quarters of a year
Since you and I together have been
I will not come and sit down by you
Nor yet no other man
Since you have been courting another young girl
Your heart is no longer mine
There is a flower, I’ve heard them say
I wish I could that flower find
It’s called «hearts-ease» by night and, by day
I cast my anchor in the sea
And it sank down into the sand
So did my heart, all in my body
When I took my false love by the hand
I’ll never believe a man any more
Be his hair white, yellow or brown
Unless he was high on the gallows tree
And swearing that he wanted to come down
So, girls, beware of a false love true
Never mind what a young man might say
He’s like a star on a foggy, foggy morning:
You think he’s near; he’s far away