Lyrics O Johnny's on the Water - Jean Ritchie

O Johnny's on the Water

O Johnny’s on the water let him sink or let him swim,
if he can live without me I can live without him.
O Johnny’s a young boy but younger am I,
often he’s told me he’d wed me or die
o meeting’s a pleasure but parting’s a grief
and a false hearted lover is worse than a thief
A thief he will rob you and take what you save
but a false hearted lover will take it to your grave.
Come all you uoung ladies take a warning by me
never place your affections on a green growing tree.
For the roots they will wither the branches will die
Your body forsaken I know not for why.
If I am forsaken ill not be forsworn,
and he surely is mistaken if he thinks ill mourn.
I’ll take off this black dress and flourish and grieve
And ill pass his light by him as he does by me.
O the cuckoo is a pretty bird she sings as she flies
she brings us glad tidings she tells us no lies.
She sucks all the pretty flowers to make her voice clear
and she never sings a cuckoo till the summer is hear.