A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/Tom, the Piper's Son
LII. TOM, THE PIPER'S SON
Tom, he was a piper's son;
He learned to play when he was young;
But all the tunes 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 pleaséd both the girls and boys;
And they all stopped to hear him play
His 'Over the hills, and far away.
Over the hills,' etc.
Tom on his pipe did play with such skill,
That those who heard him could not keep still;
Whenever he played, they began to dance,
E'en pigs on their hind legs would after him prance.
'Over the hills,' etc.
As Dolly was milking her cow one day,
Tom took out his pipes and began to play,
So Doll and the cow danced 'the Cheshire round,'
Till the pail was broke, and the milk ran on the ground.
'Over the hills,' etc.
He met 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,
O how did she fret, but he laughed at the joke.
'Over the hills,' etc.
He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass,
Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and glass;
He took out his pipes and played him a tune,
And jackass's load was lightened full soon.
'Over the hills,' etc.