Tom, Tom, the piper's son,
He learned to play when he was young,
But all the tune that he could play
Was "Over the hills and far away".
Over the hills and a great way off,
And the wind will blow my top-knot off,
Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise
That he pleased both the girls and boys,
And they stopped to hear him play
" Over the hills and far away ".
Tom with his pipe did play with such skill
That those who heard him could never stand still;
Whenever they heard they began for to dance,
Even pigs on their hind-legs would after him prance,
As Dolly was milking the cow one day,
Tom took out his pipe and began for to play;
So Doll and the cow danced " the Cheshire round ",
Till the pail was broke, and the milk ran on the ground.
He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs,
He used his pipe, and she used her legs;
She danced about till the eggs were all broke,
She began for to fret, but he laughed at the joke.
He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass,
Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and glass;
He took out his pipe and played them a tune,
And the jack-ass's load was lightened full soon.