Oh, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing

And the corn it ripens fastest when the frost is settling in

And when a woman tells me my face she'll soon forget

Before we'll part, I'll wage a croon, she's fain to follow't yet

Oh, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing

And the swallow skims without a thought as long as it is spring

But when spring goes, and winter blows, my lassie you'll be fain

For all your pride, to follow me across the stormy main

Oh, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing

And the bee that flew when summer shone, in winter cannot sting

I've seen a woman's anger melt betwixt the night and morn

Oh it's surely not a harder thing to tame a woman's scorn

Oh, never say me farewell here, no farewell I'll receive

And you shall set me to the stile and kiss and take your leave

I'll stay until the curlew calls and the martlet takes his wing

Oh, the snow it melts the soonest when the winds begin to sing