the brown and the yellow ale

As I walked down the road one fine summers morning,
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
I met with a young man without any warning
Oh, love of my heart

He asked me if the woman by my side was my daughter
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
And when I said she's my wife his manner didn't alter
Oh, love of my heart

He asked me if I'd lend her for an hour and a day,
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
I said, "if she thinks that's fair you can take her away."
Oh, love of my heart

Then you take the high road and I'll be off with her
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
And I'll meet you again by the ford of the river.
Oh, love of my heart

I waited by that ford for an hour and a quarter
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
And when she came to me, 'twas without shame I saw her.
Oh, love of my heart

When she told me her story, sure I lay down and I died,
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
She sent two men for timber, and she never even cried.
Oh, love of my heart

A board of elder and a board of holly,
Oh, the brown and the yellow ale
And three great yards of a shroud all about me.
Oh, love of my heart

If me own little mother, she had never been a woman,
O the brown and the yellow ale
I would tell you many's another tale about women.
Oh love of my heart