Way deep down in the greenwood, oh
A-rap, tap, tapping on a window
A young blade and a ramblin boy
A-crossed the wide river to go
The river was wide, the river was deep
And all within the cottage seemed asleep
By and by, a young girl came
Blinking sleep from her dark eye
She put her finger to her lip
So young and yet not so shy
The river and deep, the river and wide
He went to the scullery and step inside
I tell to ye a rovin' tale
Or recite to you a fable
If you will give to me some bread
And a little hot soup if you're able
The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman my father is asleep
Then she put on a cloak of wool
And a pair of fine boots of deerskin
Lowering her pretty dark eye
When he caught a glimpse of her fair skin
The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman my father is asleep
He laid her down in the greenwood, oh
Squirrel and a rabbit did scamper
He sang her the ancient a-roving tale
And melody did enchant her
The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman her father lay asleep
They bid farewell by the riverbank
He looked long into her dark eye
An otter splashed and quickly sank
Greylag goose in the gray sky
The river is wide, the river is deep
The ferryman her father lay asleep