Oh say, gentle maiden, may I be your lover

Condemn me no longer to moan and to weep

Struck down like a hawk, I lie wounded and bleeding

Oh let down your drawbridge, I'll enter your keep

Enter your keep nonie nonie, enter your keep nonie nonie

Let down your drawbridge, I'll enter your keep

Alas gentle errant, I am not a maiden

I'm married to Sir Oswald, that cunning old Celt

He's gone to wars for twelve months or longer

And he's taken the key to my chastity belt

Chastity belt nonie nonie, chastity belt nonie nonie

Taken the key to my chastity belt

Fear not gentle lady for I know a locksmith

To his shop we will go, on his door we will knock

And try to avail us of his technical knowledge

And see if he's able to unpick your lock

Unpick your lock nonie nonie, unpick your lock nonie nonie

See if he's able to unpick your lock

Alas sir and madam, to help I'm unable

My technical knowledge is to no avail

I can't find the secret to your combination

For the cunning old bastard has fitted a Yale

Fitted a Yale nonie nonie, fitted a Yale nonie none

The cunning old bastard has fitted a Yale

I come from the wars with dire news of disaster

A terrible mishap I have to confide

As my ship was a passing the Straits of Gibraltar

I carelessly dropped the key over the side

Over the side nonie nonie, over the side nonie nonie

Carelessly dropped the key over the side

Alas and alack I am locked up forever

Then up spoke the page boy "Leave it to me"

If you will allow me to enter your chamber

I'll open it up with me duplicate key

Duplicate key nonie nonie, duplicate key nonie nonie

Open it up with me duplicate key