Woe be to the orders that took my love away
And woe be to the cruel cause that bed my tears to fall
Woe be to the bloody wars of high Germany
They have taken my love and left a broken heart to me

The drumbeat, in the morning, before the break of day
And the small, wee fife played loud and clear, while yet the morn' was grey
And, aye, the bonny flag unfurled, 'twas a gallant sight to see
Woe to me, my soldier lad must march to Germany

Long, long is the travelin' to the bonny pier of Leith
And bleak it was to gang there, with a snowstorm in your teeth
And, aye, the wind blew sharp and strong, and a tear rolled in my ear
I came there to see my love embark for Germany

As I gazed o'er the cruel, cruel sea, for as long as could be seen
The wee, small sails upon the ship my own true love was in
And, aye, the wind blew sharp and strong, and the ship sailed speedily
Cruel, the raging wars have torn my bonny boy from me

Woe be to the orders that took my love away
And woe be to the cruel cause that bed my tears to fall
Woe be to the bloody wars of high Germany
They have taken my love and left a broken heart to me