[Verse 1]
Oh, Johnny's on the water, let him sink or let him swim
If he can live without me, I can live without him
Oh, Johnny is a young boy, but younger am I
And often has he told me that he'd wed me or die

[Verse 2]
Oh, meeting is a pleasure and parting is grief
And a false-hearted lover is worse than a thief
A thief, he will rob you and take what you save
But a false-hearted lover will take you to your grave

[Verse 3]
Come all you young ladies, take a warnin' by me
Never place your affеctions on a green-growing tree
For the roots, they will wither, thе branches will die
If I am forsaken, I know not for why

[Verse 4]
If I am forsaken, I'll not be forsworn
And he surely is mistaken if he thinks that I'll mourn
I'll take off this black dress and flourish and grieve
And I'll pass as light by him as he does by me

[Verse 5]
Oh, the cuckoo, she's a pretty bird, she sings as she flies
She brings us glad tidings, she tells us no lies
She sucks all pretty flowers to make her voice clear
And she never sings cuckoo 'til the summer is here