Holly and Ivy- Mrs. Hedges (Wilt) 1923 Williams
[From: Williams, Folk Songs of the Upper Thames (1923) pp.221-222, WSRO: 2598/36 Packet 4 - Wiltshire: Williams, A: MS collection No Wt 479.
R. Matteson 2018]
Holly and Ivy- Sung by Mrs. Hedges of Purton, Wiltshire. Collector Alfred Williams, no date published in 1923.
Verse 1
My father left me an acre of land,
Sing holly, sing ivy;
My father left me an acre of land,
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 2
I ploughed it up with a team of rats
Sing holly, sing ivy;
I ploughed it up with a team of rats
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 3
I harrowed it with a small tooth comb
Sing holly, sing ivy;
I harrowed it with a small tooth comb
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 4
I sowed some peppercorns and they came up
Sing holly, sing ivy;
I sowed some peppercorns and they came up
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 5
I reaped it with my little pen knife,
Sing holly, sing ivy;
I reaped it with my little pen knife,
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 6
I thrashed it with a little beanstalk,
Sing holly, sing ivy;
I thrashed it with a little beanstalk,
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 7
I winnowed with the tail of my shirt,
Sing holly, sing ivy;
I winnowed with the tail of my shirt,
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 8
I sent it to market with a team of rats,
Sing holly, sing ivy;
I sent it to market with a team of rats,
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
Verse 9
The rats they all came galloping back,
Sing holly, sing ivy;
The rats they all came galloping back,
And a bunch of green holly and ivy.