Lyrics:

There's naught but care on every hand
In every hour that passes oh
What signifies the life of man
If it were not for the lassies oh

Chorus (after each verse):
Green grow the rushes oh
Green grow the rushes oh
The sweetest hours that ever I spent
Are spent among the lassies oh

The worldly race may riches chase
And riches still may fly them oh
And though at last they catch them fast
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them oh

Give me a cannie hour at e'en
My arms around my dearie oh
The wisest man the world e'er saw
He dearly loved the lassies oh

Old nature swears the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes oh
Her apprentice hand she tried on man
Then she made the lassies oh

Green grow the rushes
Green grow the rushes