[Verse 1]
When I was no but sweet sixteen
With beauty just a-blooming-o
It's little, little did I think
At nineteen I'd be greeting-o

[Chorus]
For the ploughboy lads, they're gey braw lads
But they're false and they're deceiving-o
For they'll take your all and gang awa
And leave their lasses grieving-o

[Verse 2]
Oh, I was fond of company
And gave the ploughboys freedom-o
To kiss and clap me in the dark
When all my friends were sleeping-o

[Chorus]
For the ploughboy lads, they're gey braw lads
But they're false and they're deceiving-o
For they'll take your all and they'll gang awa
And leave their lasses grieving-o

[Verse 3]
But if I had kent that I now ken
And taken my mother's bidding-o
Oh, I wouldn't be sitting by our fireside
Crying hushabye my bairnie-o
[Chorus]
For the ploughboy lads, they're gey braw lads
But they're false and they're deceiving-o
For they'll take your all and they'll gang awa
And leave their lasses grieving-o

[Verse 4]
And it's hushaba for I'm your ma
But the Lord knows who's your daddy-o
So it's girls beware and you take care
Of the ploughboys in the gloaming-o

[Chorus]
For the ploughboy lads they're gey braw lads
But they're false and they're deceiving-o
For they'll take your all, they'll gang awa
And leave their lasses grieving-o