Dark seems the winter, run chains of frost and snow, dark clouds around me hovering, the chilly wind doth blow.
I went to see my true love, she grew most scornfully, I asked her to marry, she would not answer me.
The night was swiftly rolling on, t'was almost break of day, I'm waiting for an answer, my love, what do you say?
Kind sir, if I must answer, I'd choose a single life, I never thought it suited for me to be your wife.
The birds were singing sweetly on every bush and vine, my joys would be doubled if you were only mine.
I wrote her a letter, I'll send it back in speed, saying once I loved you dearly, I loved you once indeed.
But since my mind has changed, I look another way, upon a prettier damsel, where love can have its way.
Upon a prettier damsel, where love can have its fill, if one won't say yes, there are others that will.