I learned this song from my father, but the lass had bonny black hair.

As I roved out very early to view the green meadows in spring
'Twas down by the side of a river I spied a fair maid she did sing.
I stood there in silent amazement to gaze on that creature so fair.
She seemed to be brighter than Venus, that lass with the bonny black hair.
Her brow was as white as the lily, her lips like the red rose in June.
Her eyes they did sparkle like diamonds, her breath it did bear a perfume.
And a dress of the emerald velvet was the dress that this maiden did wear
And chains of pure gold and bright silver were bound in her bonny black hair.

For sometime we courted together without naming a due wedding day.
One morning while talkin' together, very gently to me she did say,
"It's I have another more kindly my houses and fortunes to share,
So farewell to ye now and forever," said the lass with the bonny black hair.



The rest of it is more or less the same as quoted above. In my mind it's always been that the lass finally got tired of him stalling around and not committing himself. It makes more sense to me that way.