Tom Lemin

As I was crossing Tanner's Hill

From this town to the next one,

I peered across the windowsill

And spied the gashly sexton.

Ho! Ho! Who's there within?

'Tis I, the ghost of Tom Lemin!'

Ho! Ho! Why sit ye so?

I sit for love of a fair widow

Long and long a-languishing,

And leary lean a-longing.

Go down the town to yon green door,

Right opposite the pump as is,

And then enquire for Moll Treloar

That keeps The Goat and Compasses.

Ho! Ho! She've married nine

And now's my turn

To call her mine.

Ho! Ho! They're all bereft

And Tom Lemin's the last man left.

The fair widow she sat within

A-scouring of her pewter;

"I come," says I, from Tom Lemin,

that is your patient suitor."

Ho! Ho! Come drink, my friend,

To ghosts I cannot condescend.

Ho! Ho! Come taste my brew

And then, young man, I'll marry you.

Long and long a-languishing

And leary lean a-longing.

Tho' marriage is a mild design

Ordained for human comfort,

Yet seeing she'd a-married nine

It seemed I'd better run for't.

Ho! Ho! No use to run,

She've married me

So sure's a gun!

Ho! Ho! By strength of will

And Tom Lemin's left up the hill,

Long and long a-languishing

And leary lean a-longing.