Lyrics The Queen of May - Shirley Collins

As I was a-walking to take the fresh air
The flowers all blooming and gay
I heard a young damsel so sweetly a-singing
Her cheeks like flowers in May

I said, "Pretty maiden, may I go with you
Through the flowers to gather some May?"
The maid she replied, "My path, it is here
I pray you pursue your own way."

So she tripped along with her dear little feet
But I followed and soon I drew near
I called her my pretty, my true love so sweet
So she took me at last for her dear

I took this fair maid by the lily-white hand
On a green mossy bank we sat down
I gave her a kiss on her sweet rosy lips
The tree spread its branches around

Now when we did rise in that sweet mossy grove
In the meadows we wandered away
And I sat my true love on a primrose bank
And picked her a handful of May

The very next morning I made her my bride
Just after the breaking of day
The bells they did ring and the birds they did sing
As I crowned her the queen of sweet May