This is classified with the Jewish song ATU 2010 Ehod mi yodea (One: Who Knows?).
COME AND I WILL SING YOU
1st voice. Come and I will sing you!
2nd voice. What will you sing me?
1st voice. I will sing you One, O!
2d voice. What is your One, O?
1st voice. One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you two, O!
What is your two, O?
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green, O!
Chorus. One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you three, O!
What is your three, O?
Three of them are strangers, O!
Chorus. Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you four, O!
What is your four, O?
Four are the gospel preachers, O!
Chorus. Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you five, O!
What is your five, O?
Chorus. Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you six, O!
What is your six, O?
Six are the cheerful waiters, O!
Chorus. Five is the ferryman in the boat;
Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you seven, O!
What is your seven, O?
Seven are seven stars in the sky, O!
Chorus. Six are the cheerful waiters;
Five is the ferryman in the boat;
Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you eight, O!
What is your eight, O?
Eight is the Great Archangel, O!
Chorus. Seven are seven stars in the sky;
Six are the cheerful waiters;
Five is the ferryman in the boat;
Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you nine, O!
What is your nine, O?
Nine is the moonshine, bright and clear, O!
Chorus. Eight is the Great Archangel;
Seven are seven stars in the sky;
Six are the cheerful waiters;
Five is the ferryman in the boat;
Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you ten, O!
What is your ten, O?
Ten are the ten commandments, O!
Chorus. Nine is the moonshine, bright and clear;
Eight is the Great Archangel;
Seven are seven stars in the sky;
Six are the cheerful waiters;
Five is the ferryman in the boat;
Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you eleven, O!
What is your eleven, O?
Eleven of them have gone to heaven, O!
Chorus. Ten are the ten commandments;
Nine is the moonshine, bright and clear;
Eight is the Great Archangel;
Seven are seven stars in the sky;
Six are the cheerful waiters;
Five is the ferryman in the boat;
Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
Come and I will sing you!
What will you sing me?
I will sing you twelve, O!
What is your twelve, O?
Twelve are the twelve apostles,
Chorus. Eleven of them have gone to heaven;
Ten are the ten commandments;
Nine is the moonshine, bright and clear;
Eight is the Great Archangel;
Seven are seven stars in the sky;
Six are the cheerful waiters;
Five is the ferryman in the boat;
Four are the gospel preachers;
Three of them are strangers;
Two of them are lily-white babes, all clothed in green;
One of them is God alone, and He ever shall remain so.
NOTES
From the "Bizarre Notes and Queries," Manchester, N. H., vol. vi. No. 2, 1889, p. 248, being contributed to that journal by Rev. J. H. Hopkins, from the singing of children in Essex, N. Y., who, during a residence on the southern shore of Lake Superior, had caught it by ear from Cornish miners employed in the copper mines of that region.
In reprinting, I venture to make some slight changes of punctuation. The carol is sung by two voices, alternating with successive lines, the numbers previously given being repeated in chorus.
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