A little maid, boys, a-milking she did go;
A little maid, boys, a-milking she did go;
When the wind it did blow high and the wind it did blow low,
And it tossed this little maid through and through.

She went till she met with a man;
She went till she met with a man;
And she kindly asked him "If you have any good skill,
Will you catch me a small bird or two?"

"Yes, my love, I have a very good skill;
Yes, my love, I have a very good skill;
If you'll gain along with me to some shady green tree,
I will catch you a small bird or two."

So down in green meadows they went;
So down in green meadows they went;
And the nightingale was singing and the primroses springing,
You'll know very well what it meant.

Here's luck to the blackbird and the thrush;
And here's luck to the merry gay grooms;
For they'll laugh and sing all day and at night they'll sport and play,
And go home with the griefs in the morn.