One Misty Moisty Morning

One misty moisty morning, when cloudy was the weather,
I met a withered old man a-clothed all in leather,
He was clothed all in leather with a cap beneath his chin, singin':

"How d' you do and how d' you do and how d' you do again"

This rustic was a treasure as on his way he hide
And with a leather bottle fast buckled by his side
He wore no shirt upon his back with wool unto his skin, singin':

I went a little further and there I met a maid
A-goin' a-milking, milkin's o'er she said
Then I began to compliment and she began to sing, sayin':

This maid, her name was Dolly, clothed in a gown of grey
I being somewhat jolly, persuaded her to stay
And straight I fell a-courting her in hopes her love to win, singin':
I having time and leisure, I spent a vacant hour
A-telling of my treasure while sitting in the bower
And the in kind embraces I strolled her double chin, singin':

I said that I would married be and she would be my bride
And along we should not tarry in twenty things beside
I'll plough and sow and reap and mow and you shall sit and spin, singin':

Her parents then consented, all parties were agreed
Her portion thirty shillings, we married were with speed
Then Will, the piper, he did play, while others dance and sing, sayin':

Then lusty rovin' robin with many damsels gay
To drive and roam to dawning to celebrate the day
And when they met together, their caps they off did fling, sayin':

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recorded by Steeleye Span on "Parcel Of Rogues" (1973)
tune used by John Gay in Beggar's Opera
MJ