When the pipes rang out for war,
and a soldier made was he,
she hugged and kissed and said to him,
"Return to your dear lady."

He kissed her back and held her close.
"Dinna worry your head 'bout me;
hear this my solemn vow:
I shall return to my dear lady."

Off he marched, and when death and pain
were all that he could see,
he held fast to his promise
to return to his dear lady.

And when great Death approached, he said,
"Sir Death, or Madam if ye be,
dinna take my life today,
for I must return to my dear lady."

And Death did look at him and say,
"I see you love her truly;
so I will be kind and I will let you
return to your dear lady."

So then his life was spared;
a friend in Death had he.
And he could hardly wait
till he returned to his dear lady.

And then the war was over,
and he traveled to the sea,
to the village where once he did dwell,
so he could return to his dear lady.

They took him back with hero's praise,
but his love he did not see.
"Can someone tell me where she is?
I have returned for my dear lady."

"Oh, Death took her a while back;
we think she was too lonely.
Go to the old graveyard if ye
wish to return to your dear lady."

He followed their instructions;
her grave was dug 'neath their favorite tree.
Grief in his heart, sorrow moved his tongue:
"I've returned, oh my dear lady."

Then he called the priest, and told him he was dyin'.
"God above, my son, what does ail ye?"
"Naught but my broken heart;
it wants to return to my dear lady."

Then he called the gravedigger,
"Right next to her ye'll bury me,
so I can keep my vow:
I shall return to my dear lady."

So with tears in their eyes, they buried him,
right next to her, beneath their favorite tree.
And there he lies forevermar,
returned to his dear lady.