I'm sittin' on the stile, Mary
Where we once sat side by side
On a bright May mornin' long ago
When first you were my bride;
The corn was springin' fresh and green
And the lark sang loud and high
And the red was on your lips, Mary
And the love-light in your eye

'Tis but a step down yonder lane
The village church stands near
The place where we were wed, Mary
I can see the spire from here
But the graveyard lies between, Mary
And my step might break your rest
Where I laid you, darling! down to sleep
With your baby on your breast

I'm very lonely now, Mary
For the poor make no new friends
But, O, they love the better still
The few our Father sends!
For you were all I had, Mary
My blessing and my pride:
And I've nothin' left to care for now
Since my poor Mary died
Yours was the good, brave heart, Mary
That still kept hoping on
When the trust in God had left my soul
And my arm's young strength had gone:
There was comfort ever on your lip
And the kind look on your brow
And I thank you, Mary, for that same
Though you cannot hear me now

I'm biddin' you a long farewell
My Marykind and true!
But I'll not forget you, darling!
In the land I'm goin' to;
They say there 's bread and work for all
And the sun shines always there
But I'll not forget old Ireland
Were it fifty times as fair!

And often in those grand old woods
I'll sit, and shut my eyes
And my heart will wander back again
To the place where Mary lies;
And I'll think I see that little stile
Where we sat side by side:
In the springin' corn, and the bright May morn
When first you were my bride
In the springin' corn, and the bright May morn
When first you were my bride