You're just like great strong brother of mine; *)
And you know that I love you true.
And you never talk dirty behind my back,
And I know that there's those that do.

Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind:
Love is a lesson to learn in our time.
Now please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me.

May you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold;
May you never make your bed out in the cold.

You're just like a good close sister to me,
And you know that I love you true.
And you hold no blade to stab me in my back,
I know that there's some that do.

Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind:
Love is a lesson to learn in our time.
And please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me.

May you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold;
May you never make your bed out in the cold.

You're just like a great strong brother of mine,
You know that I love you true.
And you never talk dirty behind my back,
And I know that there's those that do.

Oh please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind:
Love is a lesson to learn in our time.
And please won't you, please won't you
Bear it in mind for me.

May you never lose your temper,
If you get in a bar-room fight.
May you never lose your woman overnight.
May you never lay your head down
Without a hand to hold;
May you never make your bed out in the cold.

May you never lose your temper
If you get in a bar-room fight;
May you never lose your woman overnight.
May you never lose your woman overnight;
May you never lose your woman overnight.

N.B. :May You Never, beautiful in its classic simplicity, was written for either a friend or Beverley's son Wesley. It's basically a 12-bar blues pattern, altered to 16 bar and charged with harmonic density.

*) There is a version with the following second verse:

You've been just like a good and close mother to me,
And you know I love you like I should.
You never talk about me behind my back,
And I know that there's times you could.
(N.B. From Big Funn: Homepage of the John Martyn  Appreciation Society)