The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
 The corn it ripens fastest as the frost is settling in
 And when a young man tells me that my face he'll soon forget
 Before we part I'll wage a bet he'll be fain to follow it yet
 
 The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
 A swallow flies without a thought as long as it is spring
 When springtime goes and winter blows my lad and you'll be fain
 With all your pride to follow me across the silvery main
 
 The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
 The bee that flew in summertime in winter 'twill not sting
 I've seen a woman's anger melt between the night and morn
 It's surely not a harder thing to melt a woman's scorn
 
 So never bid me farewell for no farewell I'll receive
 You will lie with me my love and kiss and take your leave
 And I will wait 'til the woodcock crows and the martin takes its wing
 For the snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
 The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
 
 The corn it ripens fastest as the frost is settling in
 And when a young man tells me that my face he'll soon forget
 Before we part I'll wage a bet he'll be fain to follow it yet
 
 The snows they melt the soonest when the winds begin to sing
 A swallow flies without a thought as long as it is spring
 When springtime goes and winter blows my lad and you'll be fain
 With all your pride to follow me across the silvery main