University of Virginia Library

THE SALLY-TREE

I

There's a sally standing by the river,
Ah Mary! why is it standing there?
To make a garland for my hair,
For my lover is gone from me for ever;
And that's why it stands there!

II

There's a thrush that sits on that sally-tree,
Ah Mary! why is he sitting there?
He sings the song of my lonely care
For the lover that cares no more for me;
And that's why he sits there!

III

The wind comes keening in that sally-tree,
Ah Mary! why is it keening there?
It keenes the keene of my heart's despair,
For the lover that's gone, that's gone from me;
And that's why it's keening there!