I am a brisk lad my fortune is bad
Oh and I am most wonderful poor
Ah but well I intend my sad life for to mend
And to build a house down on the moor my brave boys
And to build a house down on the moor

My brother does keep fat oxen and sheep
And a neat little nag on the down
In the middle of the night
When the Moon do shine bright
There’s a number of work to be done
My brave boys

There’s a number of work to be done
I’ll prowl all around on another man’s ground
I’ll take a fat sheep for my own
I will end of her life on the edge of my knife
And then I will carry her home my brave boys
And then I will carry her home

My children they will heel the skin from the ewe
We’ll be in a place where there’s none
When the constables do come I will stand with my gun
And swear all I have is my own
My brave boys
I’ll swear all I have is my own