There was an old couple, and they were poor,

a
There was an old couple, and they were poor,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
They lived in a house that had but one door,
Fa la, fa la la la la lee!

b
The old man once he went far from his home,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
The old woman afraid was to stay alone,
O! what a weak woman was she.

c
The old man he came home at last,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
And found the windows and door all fast,
O! what is the matter? quoth he.

d
O! I have been sick since you have gone,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
If you'd been in the garden you'd hea。d me groan;
O! I am sorry for that, quoth he.

e
I have a request to make unto thee,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
To pluck me an apple from yonder tree;
Ay, that will I, many, quoth he.

f
The old man tried to get up in the tree,
Fa la, fa la la lee!
But the ladder it felL and down tumbled he;
That's cleverly done! said she.