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Drowsy Sleeper

England.
Words: Collated from a large number of sources, dating from the 1830's.
Tune: Collected from Dorset, England.


    Arise, arise, you drowsy sleeper,
    Awake, awake, it's almost day.
    O come into your bedroom window
    And hear what your true love do say.

    Begone, begone, you'll wake my mother,
    My father, too, will quickly hear.
    Go tell your tales unto some other,
    And whisper softly in her ear.

    O then, O then, go ask your father
    If he'll consent you my bride to be.
    If he denies you, come and tell me
    For it's the last time I'll visit thee.

    My father's in his chamber, writing,
    And setting down his merchandise,
    And in his hand he holds a letter
    And it speaks much to your dispraise.

    To my dispraise, love, to my dispraise,
    To my dispraise, love, how could it be ?
    I never slighted, nor yet denied you.
    Until this night you've denied me.

    It's then, O then, go ask your mother
    If she'll consent you my bride to be.
    If she denies you, come and tell me
    For it's the last time I'll visit thee.

    My mother's in her chamber, sleeping,
    And words of love she will not hear,
    So you may go and court another
    And whisper softly in her ear.

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