Queen of the May/Queen of the May

QUEEN OF THE MAY.

STERN winter has left us,
The trees are in bloom,
And cowslip and vi'lets
the meadows perfume,
While kids are disporting,
and birds still the spray,
I wait, for my Jockey,
to hail the new May.

Among the young lillies,
my Jonny I've stray'd.
Pinks, daisies and woodbines,
I bring to my maid;
Here's thyme sweetly smelling,
and lavender gay,
A posy to form
the queen of the may.

Ah Jockey, I fear
you intend to beguile,
When seated with Molly,
last night on a stile,
You swore that you'd love her,
for ever and ay,
Forgetting your Jenny,
the queen of the May.

Young Willy is handsome
in shepherd's green drest,
He gave you these ribbons,
that hing at your breast,
Besides three kisses
upon the new hay,
Was that done like Jenny,
the queen of the May.

This garland of roses
no longer I prize,
Since Jockey, false-hearted,
his passion denies,
Ye flowers so blooming,
this instant decay,
For Jenny's no longer
the queen of the may,

Believe me, dear maiden,
your lover you wrong,
Your name is for ever
the theme of my song,
From the dews of pale eve,
to the dawning of day,
I sing but of Jenny,
my Queen of the May?

Again, balmy comfort,
with transport I view.
My fears are all vanish'd,
since Jockey is true,
Then to our blyth shepherds
the news I'll convey,
That Jenny alone
you've crown'd Queen of the May,

Come all you young lovers,
I pray you draw near,
Avoid all suspicion,
whate'er may appear,
Believe not your eyes,
lest you they betray,
Then come, my dear Jenny,
and hail the new may.