It rained, it poured, it rained so hard
It rained so hard all day
Then all the boys in our school
Came out to toss and play
They tossed a ball again so high
Then again so low
They tossed it into a flower garden
Where no one was allowed to go
Up stepped a gypsy lady
All dressed in yellow and green
"Come in, come in my pretty little boy
And get your ball again"
"I won't come in, I shan't come in
Without my playmates all
I'll go to my father and tell him about it
That'll cause tears to fall"
She first showed him an apple seed
Then again gold rings
Then she showed him a diamond
That enticed him in
She took him by his lily-white hand
She led him through the hall
She put him in an upper room
Where no-one could hear him call
"Oh, take these finger rings off of my fingers
Smoke them with your breath
If any of my friends should call for me
Tell them that I'm at rest"
"Bury the bible at my head
A testament at my feet
If my dear mother should call for me
Tell her that I'm asleep"
"Bury the bible at my feet
A testament at my head
If my dear father should call for me
Tell him that I am dead"