The high, high walls of Derry look so dismal and grey
And so does lovely Johnny, he is gone far, far away
And he's gone away to Scotland, some sweetheart for to see
May the high powers above send him home safe to me

Oh, Johnny, lovely Johnny, do you mind the day?
When you came to my window to steal me away
You promised that you'd marry me above all female kind
Oh, Johnny, lovely Johnny, what has altered your mind?

When the first time that I met you, 'tis well I do own
'Twas in my father's garden in the County Tyrone
With my white apron round us, to shield out the wind
Oh, Johnny, lovely Johnny, what has altered your mind?

And the next place that we courted, was in yonder garden grove
With the blackberry bushes around us they stood
With the oak and the apple around us they did twine
Oh, Johnny, lovely Johnny, what has altered your mind?

A bunch of blue ribbons I'll tie up and wear
And a wreath of forget-me-nots I'll twine around my hair
And if ever he returns again, I'll greet him with joy
And I will kiss the lips of my own Johnny boy