Lyrics

The trees they’re growing tall my love the grass is growing green
And many a cold and bitter night that alone I have been
Many and a cold and bitter night that I must lie alone
Since my bonny boy is young and he’s growing.

Oh father dear father what is this thing you’ve done
To go and get me married to one who is so young
He is scarcely sixteen years and I am twenty-one
Oh the bonny boy is young and he’s growing.

Oh daughter dear daughter I have not done you wrong
To go and get you married to one who is so young
He will be a man for you when I am dead and gone
Oh the bonny boy is young and still growing.

At the early age of sixteen years he was a married man
And at the age of seventeen the father of a son
But at the age of eighteen years the green sod o’er him grew
Cruel death put an end to his growing.

I will make my love a shroud of the oriental brown
And while that I am sewing it my tears will trickle down
Once I had a true love but now he’s lying low
But I’ll nurse his bonny boy while he’s growing.

see also   The bonny boy / Martin Carthy