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Traditional |
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There lived a wife in Usher's Well |
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A wealthy wife was she |
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She had three stout and stalwart sons |
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And sent them o'er the sea |
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They had not been from Usher's Well |
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A week but barely one |
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When word came to this carlin wife |
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That her three sons were gone |
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I wish the wind may never cease |
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Nor flashes in the flood |
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Till my three sons return to me |
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In earthly flesh and blood |
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It fell about the Martinmas |
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The nights were long and dark |
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Three sons came home to Usher's Well |
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Their hats were made of bark |
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That neither grew in forest green |
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Nor on any wooded rise |
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But from the north side of the tree |
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That grows in Paradise |
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Blow up the fire my merry merry maidens |
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Bring water from the well |
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For all my house shall feed this night |
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Since my three sons are well |
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Then up and crowed the blood red cock |
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And up and crowed the grey |
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The oldest to the youngest said |
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It's time we were away |
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For the cock does crow and the day doth show |
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And the channerin worm doth chide |
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And we must go from Usher's Well |
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To the gates of Paradise |
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I wish the wind may never cease |
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Nor flashes in the flood |
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Till my three sons return to me |
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In earthly flesh and blood |
