Fair and Tender Ladies

Come all you fair and tender ladies

Be careful how you court young men

They're like the stars on a summer's morning

They first appear and then they're gone

They'll tell to you some flattering story

And then declare they love you well

Away they'll go and court some other

And leave you hear in grief to dwell

I wish to the lord I'd never seen him

Or in his cradle he had died

To think a fair and tender lady

Did fall in love and was denied

I wish I was a little sparrow

And one of them that could fly so high

I would fly away to my true love's dwelling

When he would speak I'd be close by

But I am none of those little sparrows

And none of those that fly so high

So I'll sit down in grief and sorrow

And hope my morrow will pass by

Oh love is handsome and love is charming

And love's a beauty when first it's new

But love grows older and love grows colder

It fades away like the morning dew

Come all you fair and tender ladies

Be careful how you court young men

They're like the stars on a summer's morning

They first appear and then they're gone