Where have you been all a fine summer's day?
Son, come tell it unto me
A-fishin and a-fowlin in the fields in the forests
I'm weary mother let me be
I am weary mother let me be
Now, what put the blood on your right shoulder?
Son, come tell it unto me
It's the blood of a hare I killed yesterday
I killed most manfully
I killed most manfully
The blood of a hare it would ne'er be so red
Son, come tell it unto me
It's the blood of a boy I killed yesterday
I killed most manfully
I killed most manfully
And what came between yourself and the boy?
Son, come tell it unto me
It was only the cutting down of a rod
That would never come to a tree
That would never come to a tree
And what will you do when your daddy finds out?
Son, come tell it unto me
I will put my foot on board of a ship
And sail to a foreign country
I will sail to a foreign country
And what will you do with your only wedded wife?
Son, come tell it unto me
She can put her foot on board of a ship
And follow after me
And follow after me
And what will you do with your two fine baes?
Son, come tell it unto me
I'll give one to my mother and the other to my father
For to keep them company
For to keep them company
And what will you do with your houses and your lands?
Son, come tell it unto me
I will lay them bare to the birds of the air
For there's no more welcome there for me
Oh, there's no more welcome there for me
And what will you do in the winter of your life?
Son, come tell it unto me
Like a saggin in the lough I'll bend in the wind
And pray for God's mercy
I will pray for God's mercy