The Grey Cock

Saw you my father, saw you my mother
Saw you my true love John ?
He told his only dear that he would soon be here
But he to another is gone.

I saw not your father, I saw not your mother
But I saw your true love john
He's met with some delay that causeth him to stay
But he will be here ere long.

When I came to my true love's door
I gently tirled the pin
My true love she arose and she slipped on her clothes
And so softly she let me in.

All the forepart of the night
We did both sport and play
And all the last part of the night
She slept in my arms till day.

Fly up fly up my bonny grey cock
And crow when it is day.
Your breast shall be like the bonny beaten gold
And your wings of the silver grey.

The cock he proved false and untrue he was
For he crew an hour too soon
My love she thought it day and she hastened me away
And it proved but the blink of the moon.

The wind it did blow and the cocks they did crow
As I tripped over the plain.
I wished myself back in my true love's arms
And she in her bed again.