OLD MAID SONG
(learned from Berkeley folksinger Janet Smith in about 1961)
I had a sister Sally, who was younger than I am
I had a sister Susan, who was ugly and misshapen,
I never would be scoldin', I never would be jealous,
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)
She had so many sweethearts she had to deny them
But as for me I never had many
If you want to take my heart, I'll be thankful for any,
Come, a landsman, a tinsman, a tinker or a tailor
A fiddler or a dancer, a plowboy or a sailor,
Rich man or a poor man, a fool or a witty,
Don't you let me die an old maid, but take me out of pity.
Before she was sixteen, she had been taken,
Before she was eighteen, a son and a daughter,
Here am I, six-and-forty, and never had an offer.
Come, a landsman, a tinsman...
My husband would have money to go to the alehouse,
And while he was there a-drinkin', I would be home a savin',
And I'll leave it to the world if I'm not worth the havin',
Come, a landsman, a tinsman...