X:187
T:Song of the Riddles, The
R:
song
D:Willie Clancy: The Minstrel from Clare
Z:id:hn-song-187
M:6/8
L:1/8
Q:3/8=100
K:G
(GA) | B2B A2G | A3 G2E | D2E GG2 | G3-G2
A | B2A B2d | ee2 e2d | G2G A2G | E3-E2
A | B2A B2d | ee2 edd | G2G A2G | GE2-E
(GA) | B2B A2G | A2B G2E | D2E G2G | G3-G ||
W:A gentleman's fair daughter stepped down a narrow lane.
W:She met with Captain Witherburn, the keeper of the game.
W:He said unto his servant men, "If it were not for the law,
W:I'd have that maid in bed with me and she'd lie next the wall."
W:
W:"Ah, then go away, young man," she said, "and do not bother me.
W:Before you lie one night with me you must answer me questions three.
W:Three questions you must answer me whilst I set forth them all,
W:Ere you and I in one bed lie and I lie next the wall."
W:
W:"You must get me for my breakfast a cherry without a stone,
W:You must get me for my dinner a bird without a bone.
W:For my supper you must get for me a bird without a gall,
W:Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall."
W:
W:"Now the cherry when in blossom, it surely has no stone,
W:The chicken when it's in the egg, it surely has no bone.
W:The dove she is a gentle bird and flies without a gall,
W:So you and I in one bed lie and you'll lie next the wall."
W:
W:"Ah, go away, young man," she said, "and do not me perplex.
W:Before you lie one night with me you must answer me questions six.
W:Six questions I'll put forth to you whilst you shall answer all,
W:Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall."
W:
W:"Now what is rounder than a ring? What's higher than a tree?
W:And what is worse than women's wrath? What's deeper than the sea?
W:What bird sings best? What tree buds first and on the dew first fall?
W:Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall."
W:
W:"Now the world is rounder than a ring, heaven's higher than a tree.
W:The divil is worse than women's wrath, hell's deeper than the sea,
W:The lark sings best, the heath buds first and there the dew first fall,
W:So you and I in one bed lie and you'll lie next the wall."
W:
W:"You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew,
W:You must get for me a mantle that weft nor warp went through,
W:A sparrow's horn, a priest unborn to wed us both in twa,
W:Ere you and I in one bed lie or I lie next the wall."
W:
W:"Now my father has some winter fruit that in December grew,
W:My mother has a mantle that weft nor warp went through,
W:A sparrow's horn is easy got: there is one in every claw,
W:And Melchizedek was a priest unborn - and you'll lie next the wall."