Father Grumble

Cat. #0255 (MFH #183) - As sung by Mrs. Olive Coberley, Weaubleau, Missouri on October 7, 1958

VERSE 1
Father Grumble, he did say
Sure as th bark grows 'round the tree
He could do more work in a day
Than his wife could do in three, three
He could do more work in a day
Than his wife could do in three

VERSE 2
Mother Grimble, she did say
You may have it now
You may do th work in th house
And I'll go follow th plow, plow
You may do th work in th house
And I'll go follow the plow

VERSE 3
You must watch th speckled hen
Fear she runs away
You must reel th spool of yarn
That I spun yesterday, day
You must reel th spool of yarn
That I spun yesterday

VERSE 4
You must churn th crock of cream
That standeth in th frame
You must watch th fat in th pot
Or it'll all go in th flame, flame
You must watch th fat in th pot
Or it'll all go in th flame

VERSE 5
You must milk th muley cow
Fear she does go dry
You must feed th little pig
That liesth in th sty, sty
You must feed th little pig
That lieseth in th sty

VERSE 6
He forgot th speckled hen
And she ran away
He forgot to reel th yarn
That she spun yesterday, day
He forgot to reel th yarn
That she spun yesterday

VERSE 7
He forgot th crock of cream
That standeth in th frame
He forgot th fat in th pot
And it all went in th flame, flame
He forgot th fat in th pot
And it all went in th flame

VERSE 8
He went to milk th muley cow
Fear she would go dry
The cow she run, she kicked, she run
She kicked 'im in the eye, eye
The cow she run, she kicked, she run
She kicked 'im in the eye

VERSE 9
He went to feed th little pig
That lieseth in th sty
He bumped his head upon a beam
Th brains begin to fly, fly
He bumped his head upon a beam
And th brains begin to fly

VERSE 10
Father Grumble, he went in
Looking very sad
Mother Grumble, clapped her hands
An' said, that she was glad, glad
Mother Grumble, clapped her hands
And said, that she was glad

Variants