Oh, as I was a-walking on a May morning
And sat down by an old lofty tree,
All for to hear two lovers talk, to hear what they'd got to say
And to find out something more about courting.
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"Come and sit down with me together on the grass,
Sit down on the grass so very green.
T'is a long three quarters of the year, darling dear,
Since together you and I have been seen."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"No, I won't sit with you together on the grass
Not now nor at any other time.
For I heard you were in love with another pretty girl
And your heart wasn't any longer mine."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"Oh, then I'll go and climb a lofty, lofty tree
And I'll rob a poor bird of his nest.
And if ever I should then come down without having a fall
I'll get married to the lass I love best."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"Oh, then I'll go and climb a higher tree than that
And I'll harry a far richer nest.
And if ever I should then come down without having a fall
I'll get married to the lad I love best."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
And sat down by an old lofty tree,
All for to hear two lovers talk, to hear what they'd got to say
And to find out something more about courting.
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"Come and sit down with me together on the grass,
Sit down on the grass so very green.
T'is a long three quarters of the year, darling dear,
Since together you and I have been seen."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"No, I won't sit with you together on the grass
Not now nor at any other time.
For I heard you were in love with another pretty girl
And your heart wasn't any longer mine."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"Oh, then I'll go and climb a lofty, lofty tree
And I'll rob a poor bird of his nest.
And if ever I should then come down without having a fall
I'll get married to the lass I love best."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.
"Oh, then I'll go and climb a higher tree than that
And I'll harry a far richer nest.
And if ever I should then come down without having a fall
I'll get married to the lad I love best."
And it's T stands for Thomas, I suppose,
J O N stands for John.
W E and N stand for my sweet William
Because he is a clever young man.