American Old Time Song Lyrics: 04 The Whistling Thief

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 4

THE WHISTLING THIEF.

When Pat came o'er the hill
His Colleen fair to see,
His whistle, low and shrill,
The signal was to be­"Mary, the mother said,
"Some one is whistlin' sure."
"Oh," says Mary, "'tis only the wind
A-whistlin' thro' the door.

"I've lived a long time, Mary,
In this wide world, my dear;
But a door to whistle like that,
I never yet did hear."
"But, mother, you know the fiddle
Hangs close beside the chink,
And the wind upou the strings
Is playin' the tune, I think."

"Mary, I hear the pig
Uneasy in his mind."
"But, mother, you know they say
The pigs can see the wind.
"That s thrue enough in the day;
But I think you may remark
That pigs no more nor we
Can see anything in the dark."

"The dog is barkin' now-
The fiddle can't play that tune."
"But, mother, the dogs will bark
Whenever they see the moon."
"But how could he see the moon,
When you know the dog is blind?
Blind dogs can't bark at the moon-
Nor fiddles be played by the wind."

"I'm not such a fool as you think,
I know very well 'tis Put.
Shut your mouth, you whistlin' thief,
And go along home out o' that.
And you go off to bed­Don't play upon me your jeers-
For tho' I've lost my eyes,
I haven't lost my ears."