Down in some lonesome valley, in a lonesome place
Where the wild birds do whistle and their notes do increase
Farewell Pretty Saro, I bid you adieu
And I'll dream of Pretty Saro wherever I go

My love, she won't have me, so I understand
She wants a freeholder who owns house on land
I cannot maintain her with riches and gold
Nor buy all the fine things that a big house can hold

If I were a merchant and could write a fine hand
I'd write my love a letter that she'd understand
I'd write it by a river where the waters o'erflow
And I'd dream of Pretty Saro wherever I go