The May Queen

You must shake and call me early,

Call me early, mother dear,

For to-morrow will be the happiest day

Of all the glad new year.

The weather forecast says: No rain,

Just sunshine all the day;

And I'm to be Queen o' the May, mother,

I'm to be Queen o' the May!

I shall wear my scarlet slippers

And my sky-blue Bombazine,

That Carrie and Kate and Margaret

May turn a sickly green;

But sister Effie's black, black eye,

Well, that was done in play:

I'm really rather excited, mother,

For I'm to be Queen o' the May!

I'm very tired indeed, mother,

I want my little cot:

My feet are lumps of ice, mother,

My brow is burning hot.

The rain came down in floods, mother,

And drenched my Bombazine;

My scarlet shoes collapsed, mother,

Dancing on the green.

How I longed for my goloshes

As we slithered in the slosh!

I've broken off with Robin

For not lending his MackIntosh;

Still, I have been Queen o' the May, mother,

A fig for all the rest!

Just bix be a bustard poultice, bother,

But try it-od Effie's chest!