Lyrics:

I went down to the hiring fair
For to sell my labour
I noticed a maid in the very next row
And hoped she'd be my neighbour
Imagine then my delight
When the farmer picked us both
Though I spoke not a word on the cart to the farm
My heart beat in my throat

My lodging was dry and my master fair
I gave him full measure
Like the corn in the field my envy grew
For in his house was my treasure
I'd watch her carry water
Or drive cows from the byre
And the heat from the sun made the corn grow strong
And with it my desire

I'd see her in my dreaming
And in my dreams caress
Her eyes, her lips, her dark brown hair
The curves beneath her dress
When harvest time it came at last
So heavy was our task
That the women and the men worked side by side
So I had her near at last

I swung harder with my scythe
Few words between us passed
And I cursed my tongue-tied youthfulness
And hoped she'd hear my heart
When all was safely gathered in
And we sat down to rest
My trembling fingers touched her arm
She placed them on her breast

She turned to me as the sun went down
And all my senses reeled
As we lay there on the scented ground
Till the moon rose over the field


She was safely gathered in my arms
When from the barn
There drifted the sound of a violin
And we hurried to the farm
All were dancing in the lantern light
And the music filled the air
And I thanked the Lord and the harvest moon
For the girl from the hiring fair