The whistling gypsy's come over the hill
Down by the river so shady,
He whistled and he sang 'til the greenwoods rang,
'Cause he won the heart of a lady.

Ow-de-do, ow-de-do-da-day,
Ow-de-do, ow-de-da-ay
He whistled and he sang 'til the greenwoods rang,
'Cause he won the heart of a lady.

She left her home by the castle gate
She left her own true lover
She left her servants and her estate
To follow the gypsy rover

Her father saddled up his fastest steed
Rode through the valleys all over
Sought his daughter at greatest speed
And followed the gypsy rover.

At last he came at last to a castle fine,
Down by the river Claydee
And there was music and there was wine,
For the gypsy and his lady.

"He is no gypsy, my father" says she
"But lord of these valleys all over,
And I shall stay 'til my dying day
With my whistling gypsy rover."