This version doesn't mention hemi-, demi-, or semiquavers, but it's obviously related. It appears with musical notation for the tune, in Calliope: or, The Musical Miscellany (London: C. Elliot and T. Kay, 1788), page 148. I have inserted line breaks where I think they will be helpful, and I have modernized the the spelling (where it was inconsistent anyway):


FOUR AND TWENTY FIDDLERS

1. Four and twenty fiddlers all on a row
Four and twenty fiddlers all on a row
There was fiddle faddle fiddle
And my double damme semi quibble,
Down below.
It is my lady's holiday, therefore let us be merry.
It is my lady's holiday, therefore let us be merry.

2. Four and twenty drummers all on a row,
There was hey rub a dub, ho rub a dub,
Fiddle faddle, &c.

3. Four and twenty trumpeters all on a row,
There was tantara rara, tantara rera,
Hey rub a dub, &c.

4. Four and twenty cobblers all on a row,
There was stab awl and cobbler, and cobbler and stab awl,
Tantara rera, &c.

5. Four and twenty fencing masters all on a row,
There was push carte and tierce, down at heel, cut him across,
Stab awl and cobbler, &c.

6. Four and twenty captains all on a row,
There was oh! d—n me, kick him down stairs,
Push carte and tierce, &c.

7 four and twenty parsons all on a row,
There was lord have mercy upon us!
O! d—n me, kick him down stairs, &c.

8. Four and twenty tailors all on a row,
One caught a louse, another let it loose,
And another cried knock him down with the goose,
Lord have mercy upon us, &c.

9. Four and twenty barbers all on a row,
There was bag whigs, short bobs, toupees, long queues, shave for a penny,
Oh d—n'd hard times, two ruffles and ne'er a shirt,
One caught a louse, &c.

10. Four and twenty Quakers all on a row,
There was Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob,
And Jacob peopled the twelve tribes of Israel,
With bag wigs, short bobs, toupees, long queues, shave for a penny,
Oh d—n'd hard times, two ruffles and ne'er a shirt,
One caught a louse, another let it loose,
And another cried knock him down with the goose,
Lord have mercy upon us,
Oh d—n me kick him down stairs,
Push carte and tierce, down at heel, cut him across,
Stab awl and cobbler, and cobbler stab awl,
Tantara rara, tantara rera,
Hey rub a dub, ho rub a dub,
Fiddle faddle fiddle
And my double damme semi quibble
Down below,
It is my lady's holiday therefore let us be merry.
It is my lady's holiday therefore let us be merry.