From Miss M.H. Mason's Nursery Rhymes
and Country Songs, p. 31; sung in Northumberland.
| 1 |
There was a lady in the West,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
She had three daughters of the best.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 2 |
There came a stranger to the gate,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
And he three days and nights did wait.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 3 |
The eldest daughter did ope the door,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
The second set him on the floor.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 4 |
The third daughter she brought a chair,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
And placed it that he might sit there.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| |
(To first daughter.) |
| 5 |
'Now answer me these questions three,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
Or you shall surely go with me.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| |
(To second daughter.) |
| 6 |
'Now answer me these questions six,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
Or you shall surely be Old Nick's.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| |
(To all three.) |
| 7 |
'Now answer me these questions nine,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
Or you shall surely all be mine.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo deeall three. |
| 8 |
'What is greener than the grass?
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
What is smoother than crystal glass?
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 9 |
'What is louder than a horn?
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
What is sharper than a thorn?
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 10 |
'What is brighter than the light?
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
What is darker than the night?
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 11 |
'What is keener than an axe?
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
What is softer than melting wax?
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 12 |
'What is rounder than a ring?'
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
'To you we thus our answers bring.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 13 |
'Envy is greener than the grass,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
Flattery smoother than crystal glass.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 14 |
'Rumour is louder than a horn,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
Hunger is sharper than a thorn.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 15 |
'Truth is brighter than the light,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
Falsehood is darker than the night.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 16 |
'Revenge is keener than an axe,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
Love is softer than melting wax.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 17 |
'The world is rounder than a ring,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
To you we thus our answers bring.
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
| 18 |
'Thus you have our answers nine,
Lay the bank with the bonny broom
And we never shall be thine.'
Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee |
