I have four sisters beyond the sea, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie; And they each sent a present to me, Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie. The first sent a chicken, without e'er a bone, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie; The second a cherry, without e'er a stone, Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie. The third sent a book which no man could read, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie; The fourth sent a blanket, without e'er a thread, Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

How can there be a chicken without e'er a bone? Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie; How can there be a cherry without e'er a stone? Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie. How can there be a book which no man can read? Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie; How can there be a blanket without e'er a thread? Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie. When the chicken's in the egg-shell there is no bone, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie; When the cherry's in the bud, there is no stone, Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

When the book's in the press, it cannot be read, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie; When the blanket's in the fleece there is no thread, Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie, Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.