I sowed the seeds of love
For to blossom all in the spring
I sowed it all on one May morning
While the small birds they did sing
While the small birds they did sing
Oh, I locked my garden gate
And I choose for to keep the key
Until some young man came a-courting me
And he stole my heart away
And he stole my heart away
Oh, the gardener was standing by
And I asked him to choose for me
He choosed me the violet, the lily, and the pink
All those flowers I refused all three
All those flowers I refused all three
Oh, the violet I did not like
Oh, because it will fade too soon
And the lily and the pink I did really overthink
And I vowed I would stay till June
And I vowed I would stay till June
For in June there grows the red rosebud
And that is the flower for me
I ofttimes have plucked at that red rose bud
Till I gained the willow tree
Till I gained the willow tree
Oh, the willow tree it will twist
And the willow tree it will twine
And so will that false and deluded young man
That once stole the heart of mine
That once stole the heart of mine
So come all you false young men
And a warning take by me
For the grass that you ofttimes have trampled underfoot
Given time, it will rise again
Given time, it will rise again