There are twelve months  in all the year,
As I hear many men say,
But the merriest month in all the year
Is the merry month of May.

now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
Riding along in the day,
And there he met  a simple widow 
Who was weeping  on the way.

"What news? What news, you simple widow?
What news do you have by the by?
Said she, " There's my three sons in Nottingham town,
To day condemned to die.

"Oh, what have they domne?" said Robin Hood.
I pray you tell me why?"
"Oh, it is for killing the king's fallow deer,
That they are condemned to die."

Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
Whisting a tune sweet and gay
And there he met a simple old beggar,
walking along the highway.

"What news? What news,you simple old man?
What news, tell me, I pray?"
Said he, "There squires in Nottingham town 
Are condemned to die this day."

"Come change your apparel with me, old man,
Come change your apparel for mine,
Here are  forty shillings in good silver,
Go drink it in beer or wine."

And so, he put on the old man's dirty clock,
The patched breeches and torn shoes 
And then they parted company 
After bidding each other adieus.

Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
Along the street he walked down
And  there he met the proud Sheriff,
who was walking along the town.

"A boon, a boon," says jolly Robin 
"A boon I beg of thee; (you)
That as for the death of these three squires
Their hangman I may be."

"Soon granted, soon granted, "says master Sheriff
"Soon granted unto thee; (you)
And you shall have all their gay clothing,
And all their white money."

"Oh, I will have none of their gay  clothing,
And none of their white money,
But I 'll have three blasts on my bugle horn,
That their souls to heaven may flee."

Then Robin Hood Mounted the gallows so high,
Where he blew both loud and shrill,
Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hood's men
came trooping over the hill.

"Whose men are these? cried Master Sheriff,
"Whose men are these? tell unto me."
"O they are mine, and none of thine (yours)
and are come for the squires all three."

They took the gallows from the slack,
They set it upon the glen,
They hanged the proud sheriff on that,
And released their own three men.