[Intro]
Am Em Am Em Am G
[Verse]
Am C G
Our king, he has a daughter fair
F G Am Em
Arbutus is her name
F G C Em
And he has gone a soldiering
Dm G Am G
To the court of the king of Spain
[Verse]
Am C G
Where our harpers sang of her gentle grace
F G Am Em
Of her beauty and her face
F G C Em
And the Spanish king's declared his love
Dm G Am G
Begged she might share his name
[Verse]
Am C G
Our Irish king, he's hurried home
F G Am Em
With all speed he could command
F G C Em
And there he's told his daughter fair
Dm G Am G
He's promised away her hand
[Instrumental]
Am C G F G Am
F C Em Dm G Am G
[Verse]
Am C G
Her lovely eyes, they filled with tears
F G Am Em
And her cheeks were scarlet red
F G C Em
"Oh Father, dear, I can't marry him
Dm G Am G
I'd rather you see me dead"
[Verse]
Am C G
"Oh, but you shall do as I command
F G Am Em
I swear it on my sword
F G C Em
Go dress yourself in bright array
Dm G Am G
I'll hear not another word"
[Verse]
Am C G
"But Father dear, I love a man
F G Am Em
Will Winsboro is his name
F G C Em
And I'd not leave my own true love
Dm G Am G
For the hand of the king of Spain"
[Verse]
Am C G
"But I swore you were a maiden fair
F G Am Em
And my Chiefs did all agree
F G C Em
I command you now, take off your gown
Dm G Am G
That I may examine thee"
[Verse]
Am C G
"Oh, Father dear, don't shame me so
F G Am Em
I would rather you see me dead
F G C Em
Before I'd let your noble lords
Dm G Am G
Search for my maidenhead"
[Verse]
Am C G
"Take off, take off your very brown gown
F G Am Em
And stand upon the stone
F G C Em
For if you be a maiden or none
Dm G Am G
The truth it must be known"
[Verse]
Am C G
So she's taken off her very brown gown
F G Am Em
And she's let the gown fall free
F G C Em
But before its hem could touch the ground
Dm G Am G
She's turned into a tree
[Verse]
Am C G
And her lover has turned to the gentle breeze
F G Am Em
Through her branches he does play
F G C Em
And she has shed her soft brown bark
Dm F G Am G
'Till this very day