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

Now Johnny was 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 upon her father's land
And she did fall in love with him as you may understand

They courted for a twelve-month long but little did they know
That both thеir 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 bond 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 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 chit
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 parents with Johnny I will go
“Oh, my bonny labouring boy”