Hay Marshall was a gentleman as ever lived on earth
And he courted Rosie Anderson, a lady into Perth
He courted her, he married her, made her his wedded wife
And on that day, I dare to say, he loved her as his life

There was an assembly into Perth and Rosie she was there
Lord Elgin danced with her that night, he did her heart ensnare
Lord Elgin danced with her that night and he conveyed her home
Hay Marshall he came running in before he set her down

“I'm all into surprise,” he said, “I'm all into surprise
To see you kiss my wedded wife before my very eyes”
“You need not be surprised,” he said, “nor need you think it odd
I but conveyed your lady home from the dangers by the road”

“Oh, had she not a maid,” he said, “or had she not a guide
Or had she not a candlelight, then of what was she afraid”
Young Betsy she was sent for, the truth for to face
“I would have brought my lady home, but Lord Elgin took my place”

“Although you be a lord,” he said, “And I but a provost's son
I'll make you smart for this, my lord, although you think it fun”
He's taken his Rosie by the hand and led her through the room
Saying, “I'll send you to fair London till all this fuss die down”

She had not been in fair London a month but barely nine
When word is come to Hay Marshall, his Rosie's gotten a son
“Oh woe be to your roses red, that ever I loved you
To wander from your own true love and tread the bags of rue”

“My meat I cannot take,” he said, “My clothes I cannot wear
For thinking on Rosie Anderson that once I loved so dear”
Hay Marshall's on to fair London with money in his purse
All for to get him witnesses, his Rosie to divorce

A lady from a window high were spying with a glass
And what did she see but a light grey gown rolling in the grass
Hay Marshall had twenty witnesses and Rosie had but two
“Woe is me,” cried Rosie Anderson, “Alas, what shall I do”

“But spring is coming on,” she said, “some regiment will be here
I'll maybe get some officer, my broken heart to cheer”
Now Rosie's got her an officer but he has proved untrue
And he has gone and left her a folly for to rue

“In bedlam I must lie my lay, in bedlam I must cry
In bedlam I must lie she says and in bedlam I must die
Come all ye ladies young and fair and a warning take by me
Never to leave your own husband or any that you see.”