When I was 23, boozing-oh, boozing-oh
When I was 23, left my home
When I was 23, said 'father give to me
My share of what you're worth, I will roam, I will roam
I kissed my mother's face and I left home

I wandered far from there
Gave my love, gave my love
I wandered far from there, gave my love
She wore a pretty gown
And she let her tresses down

And the boys would gather round
Oh my love, oh my love
The boys would gather round her, my love

But she cared not for me, o my soul, o my soul
No, she cared not for me, o my soul
As I lay fast asleep, she took her leave of me
And left me not a thing, o my soul, o my soul
And left me not a thing, o my soul

As I was sinking down, weary boned, o my soul
As I was sinking down, I missed my home
I set off down the road, for to take a servant's load
Back to my father's home I would go, I would go
O never more to roam, o my soul

What wondrous love is this, o my soul, o my soul
What wondrous love is this, o my soul
What wondrous love is this, met with a father's kiss
While I was far from home, o my soul, o my soul
He met me far from home, o my soul