The Wife Of Ushers Well

There lived a wife in Ushers Well

A wealthy wife was she

She had three stout and stalwart sons

And sent them o'er the sea

They had not been from Ushers Well

A week but barely one

When word came to this carlin wife

That her three sons were gone

I wish the wind may never cease

Nor flashes in the flood

Till my three sons return to me

In earthly flesh and blood

It fell about the Martinmas

The nights were long and dark

Three sons came home to Ushers Well

Their hats were made of bark

That neither grew in forest green

Nor on any wooded rise

But from the north side of the tree

That grows in Paradise

Blow up the fire my merry merry maidens

Bring water from the well

For all my house shall feed this night

Since my three sons are well

Then up and crowed the blood red cock

And up and crowed the grey

The oldest to the youngest said

It's time we were away

For the cock does crow and the day doth show

And the channerin worm doth chide

And we must go from Ushers Well

To the gates of Paradise

I wish the wind may never cease

Nor flashes in the flood

Till my three sons return to me

In earthly flesh and blood