The Bachelors’ Hall

I rode seven horses clean to death;
I rode them 'till they had no breath-
Wore five saddles to the tree
And none of those girls won't marry me
Sing fa lie riddle aye day

Get up in the morning I'll [stumble] and reel
Tell all those girls how sleepy I feel;
With all this here courting I'll court none at all
I'll always live single, keep bachelors' hall
Sing fa lie riddle aye day

Women will fret, the children will bawl;
The greatest of pleasures: keep bachelors' hall;
The devil for one, and he may have all;
I'll always live single, keep bachelors' hall
Sing fa lie riddle aye day

Saddle up my horse, I'll ride him away-
Keep up those girls 'till it's almost day
I'll start home a-meaning no harm;
Before i get home I will sleep in some barn
Sing fa lie riddle aye day

Takes two hours for the girls to dress
And then two hours before the glass
They'll primp up, and then they'll go way;
The devil himself couldn't look so gay
Sing fa lie riddle aye day

Saddle up my horse and ride him away-
Keep up those girls 'till it's almost day
I'll go home, i'll stir up my straw
I'll eat my old hoecake be done or be raw