There was a woman in our town and in our town did dwell
She loved her old man dearly but another man twice as well

And sing:
Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

She went down to see the doctor to see if she could find
Anything in the whole world to make her old man blind

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

“Oh take him sixteen marrowbones and make him eat them all
And when he's finished he'll be so blind, he won't see you at all.”

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

So the doctor he wrote a letter and he sealed it with his hand
And he sent it up to the old man to make him understand

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

But the old man being a crafty bugger he knew it all before
He ate 'em up and he says, “My dear, oh I can't see you at all.”

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

Says he, “I'll go to the river and there myself I'll drown.”
Says she, “I'll walk along with you to see that you don't fall down.”

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

They walked along together 'til they come to the river's brim
So gently there she's kissed him and she crept away behind

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

She ran and she ran behind him to try to push him in
But the old man heard and he jumped aside and she went tumbling in

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

So loudly she did holler and loud for mercy call
But the old man says, “I am so blind, I can't see you at all.”

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

She swam and she swam and she swam around 'til she came to the further brim
But the old man got the barge pole and he pushed her further in

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day

“Oh it may take sixteen marrowbones to make your old man blind
But if you want to murder him you must creep up close behind.”

Fal-the-lal-lal-the-lal-li-day
Fal-the-lal lal-li-day