(He) O Madam, I will give to you the keys of Canterbury,
And all the bells in London shall ring to make you merry
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me anywhere.

(She) I shall not, Sir, accept of you the keys of Canterbury,
Nor all the bells in London shall ring to make us merry.
I will not be your joy, your sweet and only dear,
Nor walk along with you anywhere.

(He) O Madam, I will give to you a pair of boots of cork,
The one was made in London, the other made in York
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me anywhere.

(She) I shall not, Sir, accept of you a pair of boots of cork,
Though both were made in London, or both were made in York.
I will not be your joy, your sweet and only dear,
Nor walk along with you anywhere.

(He) O madam, I will give to you a little golden bell,
To ring for all your servants and make them serve you well.
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me anywhere.

(She) I shall not, Sir, accept of you a little golden bell,
To ring for all my servants, and make them serve me well.
I will not be your joy, your sweet and only dear,
Nor walk along with you anywhere.

(He) O Madam, I will give to you a broidered silken gownd,
With nine yards a-dropping and training on the ground,
If you will be my joy, my sweet and only dear,
And walk along with me, anywhere.

(She) O Sir, I will accept of you a broided silken gownd,
With nine yards a-drooping and training on the ground.
(Both) Then {I will be your joy, your/you shall be my joy, my} sweet and only dear,
And walk along with {you/me} anywhere.


abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Singing Together, Spring 1967, BBC Publications

Notes:
Taken from A Selection of Collected Folk-Songs, vol I, arranged by Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams (London: Novello, n.d. 70-71)


Roud: 573 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: