Oh, father, dear father, you have done me wrong
You have married me to a boy that's much too young
He is only 16 years, and I am 21

Oh, my darling boy is young
But he's growing
Oh, my darling boy is young
But he's growing

For, at the age of 16, he was a married man
At the age of 17, father of a son
At the age of 18 years, my love was dead and gone
The green grass put an end to his growing
That green grass put an end to his growing

So I will go to my love's grave and I'll sit by his side
I'll pick my love some flowers and sow my love some shroud
And every stitch I'll put in, his tears, they will fall down
Cruel fate has put an end to his growing
Cruel fate has put an end to his growing

For the trees he knew grew higher and the leaves did go green
The days have passed and gone, my love, that you and I have seen
It's a cold winter's night, my love, that I must pass alone
But I'll watch over his son

While he's growing
But I'll watch over his son
While he's growing
But I'll watch over his son
While he's growing