Black is the colour of my true love's hair

and sea blue are his eyes

but brown is where my duty lies

and brown is my despair.

I rise at dawn and tend to him

my brown-eyed concubine

but black is the colour of my true love's hair

and blacker still my mind.

I look into my husband's eyes

and swim within the brown

but black is the colour of my true love's hair

and sea blue are his eyes –

black as the sky on midnight's chime

and blue as brilliant day

black and blue are my sweetheart's lies

but brown is what I bear.