There was an old woman,
As I’ve heard tell,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
She went to market
Her eggs for to sell;
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol.
She went to market
All on a market day,
And she fell asleep
Upon the King’s Highway.
Fol de rol de lol, lol, lol, lol, lol,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol.
And there came a pedlar
Whose name was Stout,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
He cut her petticoats
All round about;
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
He cut her petticoats
Up to her knees,
Which made the little woman
Shiver and freeze.
Fol de rol de lol, lol, lol, lol, lol,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol.
And when this old woman
Began to wake,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
She began to shiver
And she began to shake.
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
She began to wonder,
She began to cry,
“Oh deary me!
This can never be I!
Fol de rol de lol, lol, lol, lol, lol,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol.
“But if it be I,
As I hope it may be,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
I’ve a dog at home
That I’m sure knows me.
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
And if it be I,
He will wag his tail,
And if it’s not I,
He will bark and wail.”
Fol de rol de lol, lol, lol, lol, lol,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol.
Home went the old woman
All in the dark,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
Then up got her dog
And began to bark.
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol;
He began to bark;
She began to cry,
“Deary me, dear!
This is none of I.”
Fol de rol de lol, lol, lol, lol, lol,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle, dol.