Where have you been all the long summer's day?
Son, come tell it unto me
I've been huntin' and fowlin' all the long whole day
And it's mama pardon me-oh, and it's mama pardon me

And what put the blood on your right shoulder?
Son, come tell it unto me
Oh, that is the blood of the hare I caught
That I killed most manfully-oh, that I killed most manfully

Oh, the blood of the hare now it could never be so red
Son, come and tell it unto me
Oh, that is the blood of my youngest brother
That I killed most brutally-oh, that I killed most brutally

Oh, what came between you and your brother?
Son, come and tell it unto me
It was mostly about that cutting of a rod
That will never grow into a tree-oh, that will never grow into a tree

Then what will ya do when your father comes home?
Son, come tell it unto me
I will put my foot on board of a ship
And I'll sail for a foreign country-oh, and I'll sail for a foreign country

Then what will become of your own dear wife?
Son, come tell it unto me
I will leave her there in her grief and despair
And she'll see no more of me-oh, and she'll see no more of me

And what will ya do with your two fine babes?
Son, come tell it unto me
I'll give one to me father and the other to you mother
For to keep yis company-oh, for to keep yis company

And what will you do with your two greyhounds?
Son, come tell it unto me
I will take the straps from around their necks
And they'll race no more for me-oh, and they'll race no more for me

What will become of your houses and your land?
Son, come and tell it unto me
I will leave them there for the birds all in the air
There'll be no more welcomes there for me-oh
And there'll be no more welcomes there for me