Crab-apples are sour and so is he,
So is he, so is he,
Crab-apples are sour and so is he,
About the merry-ma-tansa.]
Can she bake and can she brew?
Can she shape and can she sew,
‘Boot a house can a’ things do?
About the merry-ma-tansa?
She can bake and she can brew,
She can shape and she can sew,
’Boot a house can a’ things do,
About the merry-ma-tansa.
This is the way to wash the clothes,
Wash the clothes, wash the clothes,
This is the way to wash the clothes,
About the merry-ma-tansa.
[Then follows verses for wringing clothes, ironing, baking bread, washing hands, face, combing hair, washing and sweeping the house, and a number of other things done in housekeeping. The boy then presents the girl with a ring, and they all sing—]
Now she’s married in a goud ring,
A gay goud ring, a gay goud ring,
Now she’s married in a goud ring,
About the merry-ma-tansa.
A gay goud ring is a dangerous thing,
A cankerous thing, a cankerous thing,
A gay goud ring is a dangerous thing,
About the merry-ma-tansa.
Now they’re married we wish them joy,
Wish them joy, wish them joy,
Now they’re married we wish them joy,
About the merry-ma-tansa.
Father and mother they must obey,
Must obey, must obey,
Father and mother they must obey,
About the merry-ma-tansa.