D                        G          A7            D  
Come all you lads and lassies and listen to me a while
D                   Bm                   G               A7
I'll sing to you a verse or two that's sure to make you smile
D             Bm             G                       A7
Concerning a young man I am going to tell you now
               D         G          A7                      D
Who has lately come a courting the maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe.

D                         G                A7                  D
This young man says "My pretty maid, will you come along with me?
D                    Bm          G            A7
We'll both fly off together and happy we will be
D                          Bm                  G               A7
We'll join our hands in wedlock bands as I'm speaking with ya now
            D           G              A7                      D
And I'll do me best endeavour for the maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe."

D                      G              A7               D    
This fair and fickle young thing she knew not what to say
D                         Bm                 G          A7
Her eyes did shine like diamonds bright and merrily did play
D                          Bm               G             A7
She says "Young man, your love subdue, for I'm not ready now
              D          G            A7                       D
And I'll spend another season at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe."
 
D                        G               A7             D   
The young man said "My pretty maid, how can you answer so?
D                    Bm              G              A7
See down in yonder valley where my crops do gently grow
D                Bm            G               A7
Down in yonder valley I have horses, men and plough
             D               G            A7                      D
And they're at their daily labor for the maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe."
 
D                            G          A7                D   
"If they're at their daily labor, kind sir, 'tis not for me
D                    Bm        G                   A7
I've heard of your behavior, I have indeed", says she
D                      Bm                     G               A7
"There is an inn where you call in and I've heard the people say
                D                  G                    A7                   
That you rap and you call and you pay for all and come home at the break of 
 D
day."

D                           G               A7              D    
"If I rap and I call and I pay for all, me money is all me own
D                       Bm           G                    A7
I'll never spend your fortune for I hear that you've got none
D                       Bm                 G              A7  
You thought you had me poor heart won by meeting with ya now
              D             G               A7                      D
But I'll leave ya where I found ya at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe."