As I roved out one summer's morn

I saw a scarecrow tied to a pole in a field of corn

His coat was black and his head was bare

And as the wind shook him the crows took up into the air

Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me

Ah, but you'd lay me down and love me if you could

For you're only a bag of rags in an overall

That the wind sways so the crows fly away and the corn can grow tall

As I roved out one winter's day

I saw an old man hanging from a pole in a field of clay

His coat was gone and his head hung low

Till the wind flung it up to look, wrung its neck and let it go

How could you lay me down and love me

How could you lay me down and love me now

For you're only a bag of bones in an overall

That the wind blows and the kids throw stones at the thing on the pole

As I rode out one fine spring day

I saw twelve jolly dons dressed out in the blue and the gold so gay

And to a stake they tied a child newborn

And the songs were sung, the bells was rung, and they sowed their corn

Now you can lay me down and love me

Now you can lay me down and love me if you will

For you're only a bag of rags in an overall

But the wind blew and the sun shone too and the corn grew tall