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Queen of the May 
Queen of the May 
Now the winter is gone and the summer is come And the meadows and plantains (plantings) so gay I heard a fair maid so sweetly she sung And her cheeks like the blossoms in May 
Young Johnny the plowboy his cheeks like a rose So cheery he sings to the plow And the blackbird and thrush on every green bush And the pretty girl a-milking her cow 
As I walked through the fields to take the fresh air And the meadows andi plantains so gay I heard a young damsel so sweetiy she sung And her cheeks like the blossoms in May Y 
I says,"Pretty fair maid, oh how come you here In this meadow this morning so gay?" This maid she replied, "Sir to gather me some may For the trees they are all now in bloom." 
I says, "My pretty fair maid shall I tarry with you In this meadow this morning so gay?" This maid she replied, "Are you so innocent For fear you might lead me astray?" 
I took this fair maid by the lily white hand And on the green mossy bank set her down And I planted a kiss on her red ruby lips And the small birds a-singing all around 
And when we arose from the green mossy bank Through the meadow we wandered away I had plowed by (my) true love on the green mossy bank And I plucked her a handful of may 
And when we arose she gave me a smile And thanked me for what I had done For I planted a kiss on her red ruby lips For believe me those ne'er would I shun 
'Twas early next morning I made her my bride That the world would have nothing to say And the bells they shall ring and the bridesmaids shall sing And I'll crown her the queen of the May. 
From Songs the Whalemen Sang, Huntington Collected from the journal of Bengal, 1832