I put my back against an oak
Thinking it was some trusty tree
But first it bent and then it broke
And so did my false love to me

I put my hand into a bush
Thinking some sweetest flower to find
I pricked my finger to the bone
Leaving the sweetest flower behind

O meeting is a pleasure
And parting is a grief
But an unconstant lover
Is worse than any thief
A thief will only rob you
And take you all that you have saved

But an unconstant lover
Will bring you to the grave
The grave it will decay you
And turn you into dust
There's not one in a thousand
That you can trust
And tell to you more lies
As the hairs upon your head, love
Or the stars in the skies

Come all you young lovers
A warning take by me
Don't place your affection
On a green willow tree

For the leaves they will wither
The branches will decay
And all your poor love
Will soon fall away

We hung upon a hook
Cut me to the bone
Froze me with a kiss
Laid upon your throne
In the abattoirs of love
You're in the serpent's jaws
Love chains you to the floor
Like fools you climbed so high
It's further then to fall
In the abattoirs of love
Love's a tomb for fools, for fools