Where have you been all along summer's day
Son tell it unto me
A fishing and a fowling in the fields and in the forest
I am weary mother let me be
I am weary mother let me be


Who put the blood on your right shoulder
Son tell it unto me
‘Its the blood of a hare that I killed yesterday
I killed most manfully
I killed most manfully


The blood of a hare it would never be so red
Son tell it unto me
It's the blood of a boy that I killed yesterday
I killed most manfully
I killed most manfully


What was between yourself and the boy
Son tell it unto me
It was mostly the cutting down of a rod
That never would come to a tree
That never would come to a tree


What will you do when your daddy finds out
Son tell it unto me
I will put my foot on board of a ship and sail away
Sail to a foreign country
And sail to a foreign country


What will you do with your lovely wedded wife
Son tell it unto me
She can put her foot onboard of a ship and follow me
Follow after me
Follow after me


What will you do with your two fine babes
Son tell it unto me
I'll give one to my father and the other to my mother
To keep them company
To keep them company


What will you do with your house and your lands
Son tell it unto me
I will lay them bare to the birds and the air
There's no more welcome for me
There's no more welcome for me


What will you do in the Winter of your life
Son tell it unto me
Like a sally in the rock I will bend in the wind
And pray for the Gods mercy
Oh and pray for the Gods mercy