[Verse 1] A shepherd sat him under a thorn, He pull’d out his pipe and began for to play; It was on a Midsummer day in the morn, For honor of that holiday. [Verse 2] A ditty he did chant long, That goes to the tune of “Cater Bordee,” And this was the burden of his song — “If thou wilt pipe, lad, I’ll dance to thee!” [Chorus] To thee, to thee, derry, derry to thee, To thee, to thee, derry, derry to thee! And this was the burden of his song — “If thou wilt pipe, lad, I’ll dance to thee.” [Verse 3] And whilst this harmony he did make, A country damsel from the town, A basket on her arm she had, A-gathering rushes on the down. [Verse 4] Her bongrace was of wended straw, From the sun’s beams her face to free, And thus she began, when she him saw — “If thou wilt pipe, lad, I’ll dance to thee!” [Chorus] To thee, to thee, derry, derry to thee, To thee, to thee, derry, derry to thee! And this was the burden of his song — “If thou wilt pipe, lad, I’ll dance to thee.”
