Oh Katy dear, go ask your mother
If you can be a bride of mine
If she says yes, come back and tell me
If she says no, we'll run away
Oh Willie dear, there's no use in asking
She's in her room, up taking rest
And by her side lies a silver dagger
To slay the one that I love best
Oh Katy dear, go and ask your father
If you can be a bride of mine
If he says yes, come on back and tell me
If he says no, we'll run away
Oh Willie dear, there's no use in asking
For he's there too, up taking rest
And by his side lies that golden dagger
To slay the one that I love best
Then he picked up that silver dagger
And plunged it through his troubled heart
Saying goodbye Katy, goodbye darling
The time has come for us to part
Then she picked up that bloody dagger
And stove it through her lily white breast
Saying goodbye momma, goodbye papa
I'll die with the one that I love best
