The merry conceited Lass,  
Whose hearts desire was set on fire,  
A husband for to have:  
In hope that he would certainly,  
Maintain her fine and brave.  
To a pleasant new Northern tune.  

 
 

I Am a young woman and feign I would have,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
A husband that will maintain mebrave,  
'tis that which my heart doth wish and crave,  

te ra la la te ra lafoy lafoy tall da rat de ra do.    

And if I have a husband kind,  
te rala tall da rat de ra do,  
That gives content unto my mind,  
A courteous wife he shall me find.  

te ra la la te ra lafoy lafoy tall da rat de ra do.    

But if my husband froward be,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
The same bread he doth break to me,  
He shall eat part out presently.  

te ra la la te ra lafoy lafoy tall da rat de ra do.    

And if my husband use to room,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
He shall not keep me like a mome,  
He were better to stay with me at home.  

te ra la la te ra lafoy lafoy tall da rat de ra do.    

And if my husband keeps me bare,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
With thread bare  and hungry fare,  
The worst will fall to his own share.  

te ra la la te ra lafoy lafoy tall da rat de ra do.    

And if my husband use me well,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
Of his deserts my tongue shall tell,  
How that in love he doth excel,  

te ra la la te ra lafoy lafoy tall da rat de ra do.    

If he buy me new hat and gown,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
That I may flaunt it up and down,  
With some of the bravest in the town.  

te ra la la te ra lafoy lafoy tall da rat de ra do.     

The second part  
To the same tune.  
 
 

ANd if he doth abuse my name,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
I will not greatly his words blame,  
For I am as like to do the same.  

te ra la la, te ra la la, tall da rat de ra do.    

But if he ply the good ale pot,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
And have no money to pay the shot,  
But come home like a drunken sot,  

te ra la la, te ra la la, tall de rat de ra do.    

And if he chance to bang my coat,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
So that he do not hurt my throat,  
Then will I sing a pleasant note,  

te ra la la, te ra la la, tall da rat de ra do.    

But if he come home fort to bed,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
I will not strive to wrong his head,  
Though by the foretop he is led,  
te ra la la, te ra la la, tall da rat de ra do,   

And if my husband catch a fall,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
I hope he will keep him from the wall,  
If he have a staff to hold withal.  

te ra la la, te ra la la, tall da rat de ra do.    

And if my husband will be drunk,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
And love's the company of a punk,  
Until he be in liquor sunk.  

te ra la la, te ra la la, tall da rat de ra do.    

If any young man be weary of his life,  
te ra la tall da rat de ra do,  
Let him make choice of me for his wife,  
And there is an end of all the strife.  

te ra la la, te ra la la, tall da rat de ra do,     
L.P.  
FINIS.   

Printed at London for Thomas Lambert, at the sign of the Hors-shoo in Smithfield.