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

by Alice Bertha Gomme

Marry one of us, sirs,
Us, sirs, us, sirs;
Marry one of us, sirs,
With a rancy, tancy, tay!

You’re all too black and greasy [or dirty],
Greasy, greasy;
You’re all too black and greasy,
With a rancy, tancy, tay!

We’re good enough for you, sirs,
You, sirs, you, sirs;
We’re good enough for you, sirs,
With a rancy, tancy, tay!

You’re all as stiff as pokers,
Pokers, pokers;
You’re all as stiff as pokers,
With a rancy, tancy, tay!

We can bend as much as you, sirs,
You, sirs, you, sirs;
We can bend as much as you, sirs,
With a rancy, tancy, tay!

Through the kitchen and down the hall,
I choose the fairest of you all;
The fairest one that I can see
Is pretty Miss ——, walk with me.

—Madeley, Salop (Miss Burne), 1891.

[Another Shropshire version has for the fourth verse—

Which of us will you choose, sirs?

Or,