It was on a summer's evening all in the month of May
Down by yon shady arbor, I carelessly did stray
It was there I met a charming girl, more pleasing to my view
And the title that she gave herself was the maid of Ballydoo

I gently stepped up to her and unto her did say
"Are you Arora or Flora queen of May?
Or are you pray Fair Ellen that appears all in my view?"
But the title that she gave herself was the maid of Ballydoo

I took her by the lily white hand and by the waist so small
I showed her my father's garden down by the river Bann
Where the kid and lamb do sport and play, the trout and salmon too
And says I "Young maid, don't be afraid for to leave sweet Ballydoo"

It was with great persuasion that I got her for to give consent
And hand in hand together then to Hilltown down we went
We there got liquor of the best and some of the mountain dew
And she soon forgot the vow she made when leaving Ballydoo

It was on a summer's evening all in the month of June
I was sitting silently, condoling at my loom
My scissors they sang sweetly and my shuttle nimbly flew
When I first composed these verses on the maid of Ballydoo