There was a fair maiden lived in the north
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
She fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

He courted her a year and a day
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
'Til he, the young man did betray
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

She leaned her back against the thorn
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
And there she had two little bonny boys
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

She took her penknife, keen and sharp
Oh, the rose and the linsie, oh
She has stucked it to their hearts
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

There, she walked to her father's hall
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
She saw two boys a-playing ball
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

She said "O, babes, if thou were mine"
Oh, the rose and the linsie, oh
I'd dress you up in silk so fine
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

"Oh, mother dear, when we were dying"
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
"You did not treat us then so fine"
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

She said: "Oh babes, if you can tell"
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
"What kind of death I'll have to die?"
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

Seven years of visions of blood
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
Seven years of hurt in the womb
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

Seven years a tongue in the mourning bell
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
Seven years in the flames of hell
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

Welcome, welcome, visions of blood
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
Welcome, welcome, hurt in the womb
Down by the Greenwood side, oh

Welcome a tongue in the mourning bell
Oh, the rose and the linsey, oh
God, save me from the flames in hell
Down by the Greenwood side, oh