AEA
Oh, Johnny rose on a May morning,
D
Called for water to wash his hands,
ADA
Saying “Bring to me my two grey dogs,
ED
That lie bound in iron bands.”
E
When Johnny’s mother she heard of this,
DAE
She wrung her hands full sore,
ADAD
Says “Johnny, for your venison
EDE
To the green woods do not go.”
[Verse 2]
AEA
“For there are seven foresters in Esslemont,
D
And this you know full well,
ADA
For one small drop of your heart’s blood
ED
They would ride to the gates of Hell.”
E
“Oh, there’s many men are my friends, Mother,
DAE
Though many more are my foe.
ADAD
And betide me well or betide me ill,
EDE
A-hunting I will go.”
[Verse 3]
AEA
So Johnny has taken his good bent bow,
D
His arrows one by one,
ADA
And he’s away to Monymusk
ED
For to bring the dun deer down.
[Instrumental]
EDAEADADEDE
[Verse 4]
AEA
Oh, Johnny shot and the dun deer rose,
D
He’s wounded her in the side.
ADA
And between the water and the woods,
ED
The two dogs laid her pride.
E
And they ate so much of the venison,
DAE
They drank so much of the blood,
ADAD
That Johnny and his two grey dogs
EDE
Fell asleep as if they had been dead.
[Verse 5]
AEA
And by there came a sly old man,
D
A silly old man was he,
ADA
And he’s away to Esslemont
ED
For to tell on young Johnny.
E
“As I came in by Monymusk,
DAE
And down among yon scrogs,
ADAD
It was there I spied the bonniest youth
EDE
Lying sleeping between two dogs.”
[Verse 6]
AEA
“And the buttons that were on his coat
D
Were of the gold so good,
ADA
And the two grey dogs that he lay between,
ED
Their mouths they were died with blood.”
E
And up and spoke the first forester,
DAE
He was headsman over them all,
ADAD
“Can this be Johnny of Brady’s Lea?
EDE
Unto him we will crawl.”
[Verse 7]
AEA
And the very first shot that the foresters fired,
D
It wounded him in the thigh,
ADA
The very next shot that the foresters fired,
ED
His heart’s blood blinded his eye.
E
Then up woke Johnny from out of his sleep,
DAE
An angry man was he.
ADAD
He says “The wildest wolf in all this wood
EDE
Would not have done so by me.”
[Verse 8]
AEA
And he’s leaned his back against an oak,
D
His foot against a stone,
ADA
And he has fired on the seven foresters,
ED
He’s killed them all but one.
E
And he’s broken seven of this man’s ribs,
DAE
His arm and his collarbone,
ADAD
And he has set him on to his horse,
EDE
To bring the tidings home.
[Verse 9]
N.C.
Johnny’s good bent bow is broke,
N.C.
And his two grey dogs are slain,
N.C.
And his body lies in Monymusk,
N.C.
And his hunting days are done.