I've heard them liltin' at the ewe milkin',
Lasses a-liltin' before dawn o' day.
Now there's a moanin' on ilka green loanin',
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.

At bughts in the mornin', nae blythe lads are scornin',
Lasses are lanely, an' dowie, an' wae;
Nae daffin', nae gabbin', but sighin' an' sabbin',
Ilk ane lifts her leglin', an' hies her away.

At e'en in the gloamin', nae swankies are roamin'
'Bout stacks wi' the lasses at bogle to play;
But ilk maid sits drearie, lamentin' her dearie, -
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.

In har'st at the shearin', nae youths now are jeerin',
Bandsters are runkled, an' lyart, or grey;
At fair or at preachin', nae wooin', nae fleechin', -
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.

Dool for the order sent our lads to the Border.
The English, for ance, by guile wan the day;
The Flow'rs o' the Forest that fought aye the foremost,
The pride o' our land lie cauld i' the clay.

We'll hae nae more liltin' at the ewemilkin',
Women an' bairns are heartless an wae;
Sighin' an' moanin' on ilka green loanin', -
The Flow'rs o' the Forest are a' wede away.

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: John Greig, Scots Minstrelsie

Notes:
Taken from http://www.electricscotland.com/music/minstrelsie/volume1.htm

Roud: 3812 (Search Roud index at VWML)
Laws:
Child: