What have you ate to-day, Billy, my son?
What have you ate to-day, my only man?
I've ate eel-pie, mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at heart, and shall die before noon.

Oh, where ha' ye been a' day,
My boy Tammy?
Where ha' ye been a' day,
My boy Tammy?
I've been by burn and flow'ry brae,
Meadow green and moutain gray,
Courting o' this young thing,
Just come frae her mammy.


And where gat ye that young thing.
My boy Tammy?
And where gat ye that young thing,
My boy Tammy?
I gat her down in yonder how,
Smiling on a broomy knowe,
Herding ae wee lamb and ewe
For her poor mammy.


What said you to the bonny bairn,
My boy Tammy?
What said you to the bonny bairn,
My boy Tammy?
I praised her een sae lovely blue,
Her dimpled cheek and cherry mou;
I preed it aft, as ye may trow—
She said she'd tell her mammy.


I held her to my beating breast,
My young, my smiling lammy;
I held her to my beating breast,
My young, my smiling lammy:
I hae a house, it cost me dear,
I've wealth o' plenishing and gear,
Ye'se get it a', war't ten times mair,
Gin ye will leave your mammy.


The smile gaed aff her bonny face,
I maunna leave my mammy;
The smile gaed aff her bonny face,
I maunna leave my mammy:
She's gi'en me meat, she's gi'en me claise,
She's been my comfort a' my days;
My father's death brought mony waes—
I canna leave my mammy.

We'll tak' her hame, and mak' her fain,
My ain kind-hearted lammy;
We'll tak' her hame, and mak' her fain,
My ain kind-hearted lammy:
We'll gie her meat, we'll gie her claise,
We'll be her comfort a' her days;
The wee thing gi'es her han', and says—
There! gang and ask my mammy.

Has she been to the kirk wi' thee,
My boy Tammy?
Has she been to the kirk wi' thee,
My boy Tammy?
She's been to kirk wi' me,
And the tear was in her e'e;
But, oh! she's but a young thing,
Just come frae her mammy!

Oh! you've been at your true love's, Lairde Rowlande, my son!
Oh! you've been at your true love's, &c.

What got you to dinner, Lairde Rowlande, my son?
What got you to dinner, &c.

What's become of your Warden, Lairde Rowlande, my son?
What's become of your Warden, &c.

What's become of your stag-hounds, Lairde Rowlande, my son?
What's become of your stag-hounds, &c.

Where hast thou been so long now,
   My sweet wee little child?
Sure with my nurse I've tarried,
   My own step-mother mild!
For oh! oh! sore pains have I—I!

Hvar har du va't så länge,
   Lilla dotter kind?
Jag har va't i Bänne,
Hos broderen min!
   Aj, aj, ondt hafver jag, jag!

Where hast thou been so long now,
   Wee little daughter fine?
In Bänne have I tarried,
   With brother mine!
Oh! oh! sore pains have I—I!

I had a hen, and a hen lov'd me,
And I fed my hen under a hollow tree;
   My hen went—chickle-chackle, chickle-chackle—
      My cock cried—cock-cock-coo—
Every body loves their cock, and I love my cock too!

I had a goose, and a goose lov'd me,
And I fed my goose under a hollow tree;
   My goose went—qua'k, qua'k—
   My hen went—chickle-chackle, chickle-chackle—
      My cock cried—cock-cock-coo—
Every body loves their cock, and I love my cock too!

I had a duck, and a duck lov'd me,
And I fed my duck under a hollow tree;
   My duck went—quack, quack, quack—
   My goose went—qua'k, qua'k—
   My hen went—chickle-chackle, chickle-chackle—
      My cock cried—cock-cock-coo—
Every body loves their cock, and I love my cock too!

I had a drake, and a drake lov'd me,
And I fed my drake under a hollow tree;
   My drake went—ca-qua; ca-qua; ca-qua—
   My duck went—quack, quack, quack—
   My goose went—qua'k, qua'k, qua'k—
   My hen went—chickle-chackle, chickle-chackle—
      My cock cried—cock-cock-coo—
Every body loves their cock, and I love my cock too!
I had a cat, and a cat lov'd me,
And I fed my cat under a hollow tree;
   My cat went—miow, miow, miow—
   My drake went—ca-qua; ca-qua; ca-qua—

   My duck went—quack, quack, quack—
   My goose went—qua'k, qua'k, qua'k—
   My hen went—chickle-chackle, chickle-chackle—
      My cock cried—cock-cock-coo—
Every body loves their cock, and I love my cock too!

I had a dog, &c. My dog went—bow, wow, wow—

I had a cow, &c. My cow went—moo, moo, moo—

I had a sheep, &c. My sheep went—baa, baa, baa—

I had a donkey, &c. My donkey went—hi-haugh, hi-haugh—

I had a horse, &c.; My horse went—whin-neigh-h-h-h-h—

      And my cock cried—cock-cock-coo!—
Every body loves their cock, and I love my cock too!

The barrow turned over,
   And in she did pitch;
Says Jack, she'll be drown'd,
   But Joan did reply,
I don 't think I shall,
   For the ditch is quite dry.
Jack brought home his Joan,
   And she sat in a chair,
When in came his cat,
   That had got but one ear.
Says Joan, I'm come home, Puss,
   Pray, how do you do?
The cat wagg'd her tail,
   And said nothing but "mew."
Jack Sprat took his gun,
   And went to the brook,
He shot at the drake,
   But he killed the duck.
He brought it to Joan,
   Who a fire did make
To roast the fat duck,
   While Jack went for the drake.
The drake was swimming
   With his curly tail,
Jack Sprat came to shoot him,
   But happened to fail;
He let off his gun,
   But missing his mark,
The drake flew away,
   Crying, "Quack, quack, quack."
Jack Sprat to live pretty,
   Now bought him a pig,
It was not very little,
   It was not very big;
It was not very lean,
   It was not very fat,
It will serve for a grunter
   For little Jack Sprat.
Then Joan went to market
   To buy her some fowls,
She bought a jackdaw
And a couple of owls.

The owls they were white,
   The jackdaw was black,
They'll make a rare breed,
   Says little Joan Sprat.
Jack Sprat bought a cow,
   His Joan for to please,
For Joan she could make
   Both butter and cheese;
Or pancakes or puddings,
   Without any fat:
A notable housewife
   Was little Joan Sprat.
Joan Sprat went to brewing
   A barrel of ale,
She put in some hops
   That it might not turn stale;
But as for the malt,
   She forgot to put that,
This is brave sober liquor,
   Said little Jack Sprat.
Jack Sprat went to market,
   And bought him a mare,
She was lame of three legs,
   And as blind as she could stare;
Her ribs they were bare,
   For the mare had no fat,
She looks like a racer,
   Says little Jack Sprat.
Jack and Joan went abroad,
   Puss took care of the house,
She caught a large rat
   And a very small mouse:
She caught a small mouse,
   And a very large rat;
You're an excellent hunter,
   Says little Jack Sprat.
Now I have told you the story
   Of little Jack Sprat,
And little Joan Cole,
   And the poor one-ear'd cat.
Now Jack loved Joan,
   And good things he taught her.

Then she gave him a son,
   Then after a daughter.
Now Jack has got rich
   And has plenty of pelf;
If you know any more,
   You may tell it yourself.

I'm going a-milking,
   Kind sir, says she;
And it's dabbling in the dew,
   Where you'll find me.

May I go with you,
   My pretty maiden fair, &c.
Oh, you may go with me,
   Kind sir, says she, &c.

If I should chance to kiss you,
   My pretty maiden fair, &c.
The wind may take it off again,
   Kind sir, says she, &c.

If I should chance to lay you down,
   My pretty maiden fair, &c.
Then you must pick me up again,
   Kind sir, says she, &c.

If I should chance to run away,
   My pretty maiden fair, &c.
The De'el may then run away wi' you,
   Kind sir, says she, &c.

And what is your father,
   My pretty maiden fair, &c.
My father is a farmer,
   Kind sir, says she, &c.

And what is your mother,
   My pretty maiden fair, &c.
My mother is a dairy-maid,
   Kind sir, says she, &c.

And what is your sweetheart,
   My pretty maiden fair, &c.
William the carpenter,
   Kind sir, says, she, &c.

There was an old couple, and they were poor,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
They lived in a house that had but one door;
   Oh! what a poor couple were they.

The old man once he went far from his home,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
The old woman afraid was to stay alone,
   Oh! what a weak woman was she.

The old man he came home at last,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
And found the windows and door all fast.
   Oh! what is the matter? quoth he.

Oh! I have been sick since you have been gone;
Fa la, fa la la lee!
If you'd been in the garden you'd heard me groan;
   Oh! I'm sorry for that, quoth he.

I have a request to make unto thee;
Fa la, fa la la lee!
To pluck me an apple from yonder tree.
   Ay, that will I, marry, quoth he.

The old man tried to get up in the tree,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
But the ladder it fell, and down tumbled he.
   That's cleverly done! said she.

   The little dog bayed
   To see such sports played,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

'Ad adhla, dhla d' ade,
PwV galh luran etribe,
BouV de mhnhn uperephda'
Kunidion d' eklagxen, au, au,
Paidian g' orwn toiande,
Kai torunhn
"Efuge kardopos labwn.

Tommy Linn has no boots to put on,
But two calves' skins, and the hair it was on.
They are open at the side and the water goes in:
Unwholesome boots, says Tommy Linn.

Tommy Linn no bridle had to put on,
But two mouse's tails that he put on;
Tommy Linn had no saddle to put on,
But two urchin skins, and them he put on.

Tommy Linn's daughter sat on the stair,
Oh, dear father, gin I be not fair?
The stairs they broke, and she fell in,
You're fair enough now, says Tommy Linn.

Tommy Linn had no watch to put on,
So he scooped out a turnip to make himself one;
He caught a cricket, and put it within;
It's my own ticker, says Tommy Linn.

Tommy Linn, his wife, and wife's mother,
They all fell into the fire together;

Oh, said the topmost, I've got a hot skin:
It's hotter below, says Tommy Linn.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Richard, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Richard;
      So there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Robert, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Robert;
      So there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Rice, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Rice;
      So there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Jones, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Jones;
      So there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
      And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
      And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Lloyd, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Lloyd;
      So there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
      And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
      And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
      And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Owen, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Owen;
      So there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
      And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
      And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
      And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
      And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Lewin, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Lewin;
      So there was Lewin and Mrs. Ap Lewin,
      And there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
      And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
      And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
      And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
      And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Shenkyn, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Shenkyn;
      So there was Shenkyn and Mrs. Ap Shenkyn,
      And there was Lewin and Mrs. Ap Lewin,
      And there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
      And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
      And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
      And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
      And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

As I went to Ratcliffe Fair, there I met with a jolly beggáre,
Jolly beggáre, and his name was Howell, and his wife's name was Mrs. Ap Howell;
      So there was Howell and Mrs. Ap Howell,
      And there was Shenkyn and Mrs. Ap Shenkyn,
      And there was Lewin and Mrs. Ap Lewin,
      And there was Owen and Mrs. Ap Owen,
      And there was Lloyd and Mrs. Ap Lloyd,
      And there was Jones and Mrs. Ap Jones,
      And there was Rice and Mrs. Ap Rice,
      And there was Robert and Mrs. Ap Robert,
      And there was Richard, and Mrs. Ap Richard,
      And there was John and Jumping Joan,
      Merry companions every one.

Is she fit to be thy love,
My boy Billy?
She is as fit to be my love,
As my hand is for my glove,
Although she is, &c.

Is she fit to be thy wife,
My boy Billy?
She is as fit to be my wife,
As my blade is for my knife;
Although she is, &c.

How old may she be,
My boy Billy?
Twice six, twice seven,
Twice twenty and eleven:
Although she is, &c.