The Creel - Fiddler's Green

A fair young maid went down the street

Some fresh fish for to buy

And a bonnie young clerk fell in love with her

And he followed her by and by

How will I get to your chamber love

How will I get to your bed

When your father he locks the door at night

And the keys lie under his sleepy head

Get a ladder newly made

Both forty steps and three

And put it against the chimney top

Come down in a creel to me

They hadn’t been there five minutes or more

When the old one said below

There’s more than one in my daughter’s bed

And it’s up the stairs I lightly go

The old one took a peep inside

To see if it be true

When her foot gave a shot to the chamber pot

And into the creel she flew

Rise up and help me, husband dear

You hear me scream and yell

For the devil has got me in his cart

And fear I’ll go to a fiery hell

Hold your tongue you daft old wife

Or ill death may be thine

For between yourself and your daughter dear

It’s time for the sun to rise and shine