'Twas on one April Morning

English trad., from Cyril Tawney, via Louis Killen

 

'Twas on one April morning, just as the sun was rising;

'Twas on one April morning, I heard the small birds sing;

They were singing, "Lovely Nancy, for love it is a fancy",

And how sweet were the notes that I heard the small birds sing.

 

Young men are false and are full of all deceiving;

Young men are false and seldom do prove true,

For they're roving and they're ranging and their minds are always changing;

They are thinking how to find out some pretty girl that's new.

 

Oh, if I had but mine own heart in keeping;

Oh, if I had but mine own heart back again;

Close to my bosom I would lock it up for ever,

And it would wander never so far from me again.

 

Oh why do you spend all your long time in courting?

Why do you spend all your long time in vain?

For I don't intend to marry; I would far rather tarry,

So young man don't spend all your long, long time in vain.

 

'Twas on one April morning, just as the sun was rising;

'Twas on one April morning, I heard the small birds sing;

They were singing, "Lovely Nancy, for love it is a fancy",

And how sweet were the notes that I heard the small birds sing.