Three maidens a-milking did go Three maidens a-milking did go And the wind it did blow high, and the wind it did blow low It tossed their petticoats to and fro They met with some young man they know They met with some young man they know And they boldly asked him if he had any skill To catch them a small bird or two Oh yes, I've a very good skill Oh yes, I've a very good skill And it's come along with me to yonder flowering tree And I'll catch a small bird or two So it's off to the greenwood went they And it's off to the greenwood went they And he's tapped at the bush and the bird it did fly in A little above their lily white knee Her sparkling eyes they did turn around Just as if she had been all in a swoon And she cried, ‽I've a bird and a very pretty bird And he's pecking away at his own ground†Here's a health to the bird in the bush Here's a health to the bird in the bush And we'll drink up the sun, we'll drink down the moon Let the people say little or much There is a thorn bush in our Cale yard There is a thorn bush in our Cale yard At the back o'thorn bush, there lays a lad and lass And they're busy, busy fairing at the cuckoo's nest Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest I'd give anybody a shilling and a bottle of the best That'll rumple up the feathers in the cuckoo's nest It is thorn and it is prickle, it is compassed all around It is thorn and it is prickle, and it isn't easy found She said, ‽Young man, you blunderâ€, and I said, "It isn't true" And I left her with the makings of a young cuckoo Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest I'd give anybody a shilling and a bottle of the best That'll rumple up the feathers in the cuckoo's nest
Three maidens a-milking did go Three maidens a-milking did go And the wind it did blow high, and the wind it did blow low It tossed their petticoats to and fro They met with some young man they know They met with some young man they know And they boldly asked him if he had any skill To catch them a small bird or two Oh yes, I've a very good skill Oh yes, I've a very good skill And it's come along with me to yonder flowering tree And I'll catch a small bird or two So it's off to the greenwood went they And it's off to the greenwood went they And he's tapped at the bush and the bird it did fly in A little above their lily white knee Her sparkling eyes they did turn around Just as if she had been all in a swoon And she cried, ‽I've a bird and a very pretty bird And he's pecking away at his own ground†Here's a health to the bird in the bush Here's a health to the bird in the bush And we'll drink up the sun, we'll drink down the moon Let the people say little or much There is a thorn bush in our Cale yard There is a thorn bush in our Cale yard At the back o'thorn bush, there lays a lad and lass And they're busy, busy fairing at the cuckoo's nest Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest I'd give anybody a shilling and a bottle of the best That'll rumple up the feathers in the cuckoo's nest It is thorn and it is prickle, it is compassed all around It is thorn and it is prickle, and it isn't easy found She said, ‽Young man, you blunderâ€, and I said, "It isn't true" And I left her with the makings of a young cuckoo Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest Hi the cuckoo, ho the cuckoo, hi the cuckoo's nest I'd give anybody a shilling and a bottle of the best That'll rumple up the feathers in the cuckoo's nest
