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Solo.—"Violets both white and blue,
Giroflé, girofla!
There I find—and cowslips too,
Giroflé, girofla!"
Chorus—"What if you should meet the king,
Giroflé, girofla!
Whilst you're flowers gathering?
Giroflé, girofla!"
Solo.—"I would make him curtseys three,
Giroflé, girofla!
Say 'Long live your Majesty!'
Giroflé, girofla!"
Chorus.—"What if you should meet the queen?
Giroflé, girofla!
That would startle you, I ween,
Giroflé, girofla!
Solo.—"I would offer her my flowers,
Giroflé, girofla!
To perfume her royal bowers,
Giroflé, girofla!
Chorus.—"What, if after all you should—
Giroflé, girofla!
Meet the old witch in the wood?
Giroflé, girofla!"
Solo.—"I would frighten her—this way,
Giroflé, girofla!
Till she dared no longer stay,
Giroflé, girofla!
THE SPINNING WHEEL.
The players dance round in a ring while the first part of the verse is being sung. When they come to the refrain, "But how can I," &c, they pause, two of the number join hands, so as to form an arch under which all the others pass, precisely as in the old games of "Oranges and Lemons," or "Thread my Grandmother's Needle." The refrain must be repeated until all have regained their places, when they again join hands, and dance round, singing the second verse.
A musical score should appear at this position in the text. See Help:Sheet music for formatting instructions |
"I was sit -- ting t'oth -- er day, Spin -- ning by the fount -- ain side, When my moth -- er an -- gri -- ly
Came, and me be -- gan to chide. But how can I, but how can I, To my moth -- er's a -- pron tied, Keep thus con -- tin -- u -- al -- ly spin -- ning?"
"Oft she says I idle grow,
And forget to turn my wheel;
Oh, if she could only know,
Half the weariness I feel!
For how can I, for how can I,
E'en to gain my daily meal,
Keep thus continually spinning?"
"From the window where I stand,
I can see them making hay;
I would gladly join the band,
But my mother says me nay.
But how can I, but how can I,
All this bright and merry day,
Keep thus continually spinning?"
