When in the springtime of the year 

When the trees are crowned with leaves 

When the ash and oak and the birch and yew 

Are dressed in ribbons fair 



When owls call the breathless moon 

In the blue veil of the night 

The shadows of the trees appear 

Amidst the lantern light 



(Chorus:) 



We've been rambling all the night 

And some time of this day 

Now returning back again 

We bring a garland gay 



Who will go down to those shady groves 

And summon the shadows there 

And tie a ribbon on those sheltering arms 

In the springtime of the year 



The songs of birds seem to fill the wood 

That when the fiddler plays 

All their voices can be heard 

Long past their woodland days 



(Chorus:) 



And so they linked their hands and danced 

Round in circles and in rows 

And so the journey of the night descends 

When all the shades are gone 



A garland gay we bring you here 

And at your door we stand 

It is a sprout well budded out 

The work of our Lord's hand 



(Chorus:)