This is from the Fireside Book of Folk Songs, copyright 1947

GREEN GROW THE RUSHES, HO!

I'll sing you one-ho!
Green Grow the rushes-ho
What is your one-ho?
One is one and all alone
and ever more shall be so

I'll sing you two-ho!
Green grow the rushes-ho
What are your two-ho?
Two,two the lily white boys,
Clothed all in green-ho.
One is one and all alone
And ever more shall be so.

I'll sing you three-ho!
Green grow the rushes-ho.
What are your three-ho?
Three, three the rivals,
two, two the lily white boys,
Clothed all in green-ho!
One, one is all alone
And ever more shall be so.

I'll sing you four-ho!
Green grow the rushes-ho.
What are your four-ho?
Four for the Gospel makers,
Three, three the rivals,
Two, two the lily white boys,
clothed all in green-ho!
one is one and all alone
and ever more shall be so.

(I hope you get the drift of the song now, it will take me all night to type this otherwise)

Five for the symbols at your door(to 4)
Six for the six proud walkers(to 5)
Seven for the seven stars in the sky(to 6)
Eight for the April rainers (to 7)
Nine for the nine bright shiners,(to 8)
Ten for the ten commandments,(to 9)
Eleven for the eleven went up to heav'n,(to 10)
Twelve for the twelve apostles, (to 11)

I'm sure someone recorded it, but I have never heard this version. Maybe someone else can help.

Jennifer

PS: The book also says "One of the few cumulative songs with religious content. it appears in an earlier version under the title of "The twelve Prophets" and again as "The Carol of the Twelve Numbers"