Thing with two legs, out on the lawn! Stubborn old thing! Is that your only song, that harsh, Loud muttering? Here! listen, and try to imitate me! Chirr-a-wink! chirr-a-wink! pirrip-wip-wee! It's just as easy as easy can be, Stubborn old thing!
Thing with two legs, out on the lawn! Ugly old thing! I hear my little brown wife in the nest Soft chirruping. And if you think I've nothing else to do But stay here and talk to the like of you, You're greatly mistaken, I tell you true! Good-by, old thing!
Five little monkeys Swinging from a tree; Teasing Uncle Crocodile, Merry as can be. Swinging high, swinging low, Swinging left and right: "Dear Uncle Crocodile, Come and take a bite!"
Five little monkeys Swinging in the air; Heads up, tails up, Little do they care. Swinging up, swinging down, Swinging far and near: "Poor Uncle Crocodile, Aren't you hungry, dear?"
Four little monkeys Sitting in the tree; Heads down, tails down, Dreary as can be. Weeping loud, weeping low, Crying to each other: "Wicked Uncle Crocodile, To gobble up our brother!"
Oh, the pretty painted ladies! Oh, the naughty painted ladies, That go running, climbing, running, All about my cottage door. Would you have their story, Johnny? Sit beside me, Sweet-and-bonny! You shall hear a sadder story Than you ever beard before.
These were maidens fair and slender, Some with dove-eyes, brown and tender, Some with black, and some with blue eyes, Locks of auburn, locks of gold. Rosy cheeks, and lips of cherry, Voices glad and laughter merry, Ever smiling, ever singing, Over gay and over bold.
And these maids were ever running, Watching going, watching coming, Asking questions of each other And of every one they knew. Peeping, peeping, here and yonder, Ready still to guess and wonder, "Was it she?" "And did he do it?" "Tell me quickly!" "Tell me true!"
Oh, the pretty painted ladies! Oh, the naughty painted ladies! When the king came riding, riding, For to seek him out a bride, How they whispered, how they chattered; Each herself in secret flattered She could win him, she could wed him, In an hour, if she tried.
So they prinked and pranked them gayly, So they crimped and curled them daily, Trying ring and trying jewel, All their beauty to complete. Not content with Nature's roses, Fie! their cheeks are painted posies; And their lips are red and reddest, But alas! they are not sweet.