Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Easter Hymns



Share page  Visit Us On FB

Previous Contents Next
REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE TO GEORGE II.
685
Old King Cole was a merry old soul,                     Then twang, twang-a-twang, twang-a-twang,
And a merry old soul was he ;                                   (imitating the harp) [went the harper,
He call'd for his pipe, and he call'd for his Twee, tweedle dee, tweedle dee, went the And he called for his harpers three, [bowl,            fiddler,
Ev'ry" harper he had a fine harp,                       And so merry we'll all be.
And a very fine harp had he; In the second and subsequent stanzas, the part of the tune which goes to the ■line, "Then twee, tweedle dee," &c, must be repeated as required by the multiplication of words.
In the third verse, Old King Cole calls for his pipers three, and the words are the same as before, except the change of the word fiddle or harp for pipe,— Then tootle, tootle too, tootle too, went the piper; Twang, twang-a-twang, twang-a-twang, went the harper ; Tweedle, tweedle dee, tweedle dee, went the fiddler; And so merry we'll all be.
In the fourth verse he calls for his drummers three,—
" Then rub a dub, a dub, rub a dub, went the drummer," &c. And thus in each verse the strain, with the line, " Twee, tweedle dee," &c., is repeated as the imitation of the different instruments may require.