The Dewy Dells of Yarrow Lyrics

There was a man lived in this town


He reared one daughter, Sarah

And she fell in love with her father’s clerk

A ploughboy John from Yarrow.

As nine young men sat drinking wine

Sat drinking wine in Yarrow

they all agreed between them nine

they'd fight for her tomorrow.

As I was walking down a lane

A lane so very narrow

‘twas there I spied those nine armed men

they were waiting there in Yarrow.

The trigger he drew and three he slew

And three he slightly wounded

Till her brother John stepped up behind

And he pierced my body under.

‘Go home, go home you false young man

And tell your sister, Sarah


That her ploughboy John is dead and gone

On the dewy dells of Yarrow.’

‘Oh brother dear I've had a dream

I dreamt I was gathering flowers

I dreamt that I was gathering flowers

On the dewy dells of Yarrow.’

‘Oh sister dear I can read your dream

Your dream will cause you sorrow

Your ploughboy John is dead and gone

On the dewy dells of Yarrow.’

Her father said unto her one day

‘What makes you grieve in sorrow?’


The fairest flower that ever I had

Was the one I lost in Yarrow.’

Her father said unto her one day

‘What makes you grieve in sorrow?’


She threw herself in her father’s arms

she never saw tomorrow.