Many Questions- Ford (WI-CA) 1938 Robertson REC
[From Warde Ford, Central Valley, CA; Recorded by Robertson; 1938. Ford and some of his family moved to California from Wisconsin in the mid-1930s. Compare with this tune "The Bigler" (J. and A. Lomax, Folk Song: U.S.A., 1948, p. 149).
R. Matteson 2014]
1. "Go away from me, you vulgar youth and let me quiet be;
Before one night I'd lie with you, you must answer questions three,
Answer questions three as I put them forth to you,
Then into bed with you I'll go and slumber next the wall.
2. "For breakfast you must bring to me a bird without a bone,
For dinner you must bring me cherries without any stone;
For supper you must bring to me a bird without a gall,
Then into bed with you I'll go and slumber next the wall."
3. "O when the chicken is in the eggshell, then I'm sure there's not a bone,
when the cherry is in full blossom then I'm sure there's not a stone,
The dove soars high, a timid bird, it soars without a gall,
Now into bed with me you'll go and you'll slumber next the wall."
4. "Now go away from me, young man, and be off with your tricks,
Before one night I'd lie with you you must answer questions six;
Answer questions six as I put them forth to you,
Then into bed with you I'll go and I'll slumber next the wall."
5. "What is rounder than any ring, what's deeper than the sea,
What is worse than woman's kind, what is higher than the trees?
What bird sends forth its busy call and from whence do the dewdrops fall,
Then into bed with you I'll go and I'll slumber next the wall."
6. "Oh the earth is rounder than any ring, Hell's deeper than sea,
The devil is worse than woman's kind, skies are higher than the tree,
The lark soars high, a timid bird, and from heaven the dewdrops fall,
Then they two jumped in bed together and they bumped against the wall.