Shirley Collins - The Bonny Labouring Boy Lyrics

As I roved out one May morning, all in the blooming Spring
I overheard a maid complain, and grievous she did sing
How cruel were her parents, they did her so annoy
And would not let her marry with her bonny labouring boy

Now Johnny is her true love’s name, as you may plainly see
Her parents, they employed him their labouring boy to be
To plough the soil and reap and mow, all on her father’s land
And she did fall in love with him, as you may understand

They courted for some twelvemonth long, but little did she know
That both her cruel parents did plan their overthrow
They watched them close one evening, down by some shady grove
And heard them pledge each other in the constant bands of love

Her father he strode up to her and took her by the hand
He vowed he’d send young Johnny unto some foreign land
But boldly made she answer then, which did them so annoy
‘It’s single I shall always be, for my bonny labouring boy’

‘His hair is like the raven’s wing, his eyes are black as jet
His face it is the finest that ever I’ve seen yet
He’s manly, neat and handsome, his cheeks are like the snow
And in spite of both my parients, with Johnny I will go’