From Newfoundland and Labrador Studies:

“…an old Canadian folksong of English origins. Its first and still the most important primary printing was in folk song collector and dance teacher Maud Karpeles’ 1934 songbooks, with R. Vaughan Williams’ setting of the music. Edith Fowke and Richard Johnston reprinted it in their 1954 book Folksongs of Canada, still widely used in schools today. In 1965 Kenneth Peacock published a longer text, set to a very similar melody, in Songs of the Newfoundland Outports.”

Here are lyrics.

1 She’s like the swallow that flies so high,
She’s like the river that never runs dry,
She’s like the sunshine on the lee shore,
I love my love and love is no more.

2 ’Twas out in the garden this fair maid did go
Picking the beautiful prim-e-rose;
The more she plucked the more she pulled
Until she got her a-per-on full.

3 It is out of those roses she made a bed,
A stony pillow for her head,
She laid her down, no word did say
Until this fair maid’s heart did break.

4 She’s like the swallow that flies so high,
She’s like the river that never runs dry,
She’s like the sunshine on the lee shore,
I love my love and love is no more.

Sing along! Enjoy!

Ann