STEPPING UP THE GREEN GRASS

(trad. from Addy's Sheffield Glossary)


Stepping up the green grass,
Thus, and thus, and thus;
Will you let one of your fair maids
Come and play with us?
We will give you pots and pans,
We will give you brass,
We will give you anything
For a pretty lass.

No!

We won't take your pots and pans,
We won't take your brass,
We won't take your anything
For a pretty lass.

Stepping up the green grass,
Thus, and thus, and thus;
Will you let one of your fair maids
Come and play with us?
We will give you gold and silver,
We will give you pearl,
We will give you anything
For a pretty girl.

Yes!

Come, my dearest [Mary],
Come and play with us,
You shall have a young man
Born for your sake.
And the bells shall ring
And the cats shall sing,
And we'll all clap hands together.

link for more info