A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/The Quaker Song

by Sabine Baring-Gould

XXIII. THE QUAKER SONG

 

'O dear me! I've lost my lover!
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum!
How shall I his loss recover?
Hum-hum-hum-hum-hum!'
'Seek him dearest, thou shalt find him,
Fa-la-la-la-la-li-gee-wo.
Seek him when the spirit moves you,
Fa-la-la-la-la-li-gee-wo.'

'O but how he does disdain me!
Hum-hum-hum, etc.
His cruel looks have almost slain me!
Hum-hum-hum,' etc.
'As for looks they need not matter,
Fa-la-la, etc.
You must learn to fawn and flatter,
Fa-la-la,' etc.

'But that dreadful sin of lying,
Hum-hum-hum, etc.
A guilty conscience when I'm dying,
Hum-hum-hum,' etc.
'Love and conscience ne'er went courting,
Fa-la-la, etc.
Youth and death is ill consorting,
Fa-la-la,' etc.