There once was a band of the ragged Gypsy lads
Come a wanderin’ from the west to the east-i-o
And the captain of the band was a man of high command
And he fell deep in love with Pretty Peggy-o

There’s many’s the pretty girl in every corner of this world
There’s many’s the time this story has been read-i-o
There’s many’s the pretty boy made for many’s the pretty girl
But there’s none like his darling Pretty Peggy-o

He cried, “Come down the stairs, Pretty Peggy, my dear,
Come a-runnin’ down the stairs, Pretty Peggy-o
Come a-runnin’ down the stairs, you’ll be married in your hair
Bid a long farewell to your mammy-o.”

“Oh, I’ll drink no more of your red claret wine,
I’ll drink no more from your glasses, oh
I’ll drink no more, though it grieves my heart full sore
I think I’m going down where you can’t follow.

The captain, he’s away, he’s gone far away
He’s gone far away, all alone-i-o
He’s gone far away, and I know he’s goin’ to stay
He’s still gannin’ after Pretty Peggy-o

Green grow the rushes, and green grows the birch
And low lie the lowlands that cry-i-o
And maybe there’s a land where they’ve never been before
And maybe now they’re riding with the rodeo