[Verse 1]
"Oh what's that blood all on your shirt?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, it's the blood of my own greyhound
He wouldn't run for me, for me
He wouldn't run for me

[Verse 2]
"Oh, it is too pale for your greyhound's blood
Son, come tell to me"
"Then it's the blood of my own gray mare
He wouldn't hunt with me, with me
He wouldn’t hunt with me"

[Verse 3]
"Oh, it's so red for you gray mare’s blood
Son, come tell to me"
"Then it is the blood of my own dear brother
He wouldn't ride along with me
He wouldn't ride with me"

[Verse 4]
"And what were you all are quarreling about?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, it's all about a little holly bush
It might have made a tree, a tree
It might have made a tree"
[Verse 5]
"And what will you do when your father comes to know?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, I'll set sail in a little sailing boat
And I'll sail across the sea, the sea
And I'll sail across the sea"

[Verse 6]
"And what will you do with your pretty little wife?
Son, come tell to me"
And she'll sail along with me, with me
She'll sail along with me"

[Verse 7]
"And what will you do with your eldest son?
Son, come tell to me"
"Oh, I'll leave him here for you to raise
To rock all-upon your knee, your knee
To rock all-upon your knee"

[Verse 8]
"And when will you come back again?
Son, come tell to me"
"When the sun and the moon there on yonder hill
I know that’ll never be
I know that’ll never be"