Lyrics The Friar in the Well - Martin Carthy

Now there was a friar as I been told
Fancied a girl sixteen years old
Come begging to her in the middle of the night
Would he sleep with her till the broad daylight
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee
"Oh no," she says, "for you know very well
If I do that, I go straight to hell."
"No, he says, "there is no doubt
For if you were in hell, I would whistle you out."
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee
"Very well," says the girl, "you can do this thing:"
You a purse of money must bring."
So he went running the money to fetch
She thought on a scheme the friar to catch
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee
So she got a sheet, you know very well
She hung it up all in front of the well
He come back and she led him in
And it′s, "Oh dear love, now let us begin."
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee
Then cries the girl so crafty and cunning
"Think I hear my father a-coming!"
So behind the sheet the friar did trip
Into the well he went arse over tit
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee
And the friar called out with a pitiful sound
"Help sweetheart or I shall drown."
She said, "You could whistle me out of hell
Whistle your own self out of the well."
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee
So she hauled him out and she bid him be gone
But he wanted his money all back again
"No," she says, "There is one matter
You must pay me for you fouled my water."
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee
"And," says the friar, "I never was treated so
And I'll never never come back here no more."
Off he went on down the street
Dragging his bum like a new dipped sheep
Till me ay fall lal diddle air o dee