The Seeds of Love

I sowed the seeds of love for to last me all the spring,
There was April, May and likewise a June,
When the small birds do sweetly sing.

My garden was well provided with its seeds of every kind,
But I had not the liberty for them to choose
The flower that was on my mind.

My gardener was standing by, so I asked him to choose for me,
He chose for me the violet, the lily and the pink,
But I did refuse all three.

The reason I refused the lily was because it fades so soon,
And the violet and the pink I over overlooked,
Then I vowed I'd stop till June.

For in June there's the red rose bud and that is the flower for me,
But often I've snatched at the red rose bud,
And have gained but a willow tree.

Oh the willow tree will twist and the willow tree will twine,
And I wished I was on that young man's knee,
That stolen this heart of mine.

As my gardener was standing by he bade me then, "Beware,
For that underneath the blossom of the red, red rose,
Lies a thorn that will twist and tear."

Then of hyssop I'll take a spray and no other flower I'll touch,
That all in the world will see and say,
That I loved one flower too much.

So come all you pretty fair maids
That love for to chipper and to chase,
The grass that is often trodden under foot, in time will rise again.