As I went out one May morning to take a pleasant walk
Well, I sat m'self down by an old faill wall just to hear two lovers talk
To hear two lovers talk, my dear, to hear what they might say
That I might know a little more about love before I went away

Chorus (after each verse):
P stands for Paddy, I suppose, J for my love, John
W stands for false Willie, oh but Johnny is the fairest man
Johnny is the fairest man, my dear, aye, Johnny's the fairest man
I don't care what anybody says, Johnny is the fairest man

Won't you come and sit beside me, beside me on the green
It's a long three quarters of a year or more since together we have been
Together we have been, my dear, together we have been
It's a long three quarters of a year or more since together we have been

No, I'll not sit beside you, not now nor at any other time
For I hear you have another little girl, and your heart's no longer mine
Your heart's no longer mine, my dear, your heart's no longer mine
For I hear you have another little girl, and your heart's no longer mine

So I'll go climb the tall, tall tree, I'll rob the wild bird's nest
When I come down, I'll go straight home to the girl that I love best
To the girl that I love best, my dear, the girl that I love best
When I come down, I'll go straight home to the girl that I love best

As I went out one May morning to take a pleasant walk
Well, I sat m'self down by an old faill wall just to hear two lovers talk
Aye, to hear two lovers talk, my dear, to hear what they might say
So that I might know a little more about love before I went away