William Brighty Rands

Topsy-Turvy World

IF the butterfly courted the bee,  
 And the owl the porcupine;  
If churches were built in the sea,  
 And three times one was nine;  
If the pony rode his master,
 If the buttercups ate the cows,  
If the cats had the dire disaster  
 To be worried, sir, by the mouse;  
If mamma, sir, sold the baby  
 To a gypsy for half a crown;
If a gentleman, sir, was a lady,—  
 The world would be Upside-down!  
If any or all of these wonders  
 Should ever come about,  
I should not consider them blunders,
 For I should be Inside-out!  
 
            Chorus

Ba-ba, black wool,  
 Have you any sheep?  
Yes, sir, a packfull,  
 Creep, mouse, creep!
Four-and-twenty little maids  
 Hanging out the pie,  
Out jump’d the honey-pot,  
 Guy Fawkes, Guy!  
Cross latch, cross latch,
 Sit and spin the fire;  
When the pie was open’d,  
 The bird was on the brier!