Water, water wall-flower, growing up so high,
We are all maidens, we must all die,
Except ——, the youngest of us all.
She can laugh, and she can dance, and she can play at ball;
Fie! fie! fie for shame! turn your face to the wall again.
—Connell Ferry, near Oban (Miss Harrison).
Water, water wall-flower, growing up so high,
We are all maidens, we must all die.
Except ——, she’s the youngest of them all;
She can dance, she can sing,
And she can dance the wedding ring (or “Hieland fling”)
Fie! fie! fie for shame!
Turn your back to the wall again.
—Galloway (J. G. Carter).
Wall-flowers, wall-flowers,
Growing up so high;
All ye young maidens
Are all fit to die.
Excepting ——, and she’s the worst of all,
She can hop, and she can skip,
And she can turn the candlestick.
Fye! fie! for shame,
Turn your face to the wall again.
—(Suffolk County Folk-lore, p. 67.)