As I was going down the road one fine day, O
O, the brown and the yellow earl
I met with a man who was no right man
O, love of my heart
He asked me was the woman with me my daughter
O, the brown and the yellow earl
And I said that she was my married wife
O, love of my heart
He asked me would I lend her for an hour and a day, O
O, the brown and the yellow earl
And I said I would do anything that was fair
O, love of my heart
So you take the upper road and I'll take the lower
O, the brown and the yellow earl
And I'll meet you again by the bank of the river
O, love of my heart
I was going that way one hour and a day, O
O, the brown and the yellow earl
When she came to me without any shame
O, love of my heart
When I heard her news, I lay down and I died, O
O, the brown and the yellow earl
And they sent three men to the woods for timber
O, love of my heart
A board of holly and a board of elder
O, the brown and the yellow earl
And three great yards of cloth about me
O, love of my heart
Me own dear mother, she was a woman
O, the brown and the yellow earl
I could tell you another sad story about women
O, love of my heart