The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2) / With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.

by Alice Bertha Gomme

Sell my father’s feather bed,
Mother, mother,
Sell my father’s feather bed,
Gentle sweet mother o’ mine.

What’s your father to sleep on,
Daughter, daughter,
What’s your father to sleep on,
Gentle sweet daughter o’ mine?

Put him in the truckle bed,
Mother, mother,
Put him in the truckle bed,
Gentle sweet mother o’ mine.

What are the children to sleep on,
Daughter, daughter,
What are the children to sleep on,
Gentle sweet daughter o’ mine?

Put them in the pig-sty,
Mother, mother,
Put them in the pig-sty,
Gentle sweet mother o’ mine.

What are the pigs to lie in,
Daughter, daughter,
What are the pigs to lie in,
Gentle sweet daughter o’ mine?

Put them in the washing-tubs,
Mother, mother,
Put them in the washing-tubs,
Gentle sweet mother o’ mine.

What am I to wash in,
Daughter, daughter,
What am I to wash in,
Gentle sweet daughter o’ mine?

Wash in the thimble,
Mother, mother,
Wash in the thimble,
Gentle sweet mother o’ mine.

Thimble won’t hold your father’s shirt,
Daughter, daughter,
Thimble won’t hold your father’s shirt,
Gentle sweet daughter o’ mine.