EQUINOXIAL (Little Phoebe)

Equinoxial swore by the green leaves on the trees, trees,
That he could do more work in a day than Phoe-be could in three, three,
That he could do more work in a day than Phoebe could in three.

Little Phoebe standing there and this is what she said:
It's you may do the work In the house and I go follow the plow, plow,
You may do the work in the house and I'll go follow the plow.

It's you must milk the brindle cow that stands in yonder stall,
And you must feed that little pig that stands in yonder sty.

And you must churn that crock of cream that I left in the frame,
And you must watch the fat in the pot, or it'll all go in a flame.

And you must wind that hank of yarn that I spun yesterday,
And you must watch that speckled hen before she runs astray.

Little Phoebe took the whip and went to follow the plow,
And Equinoxial took the pall and went to milk the cow.

The brindle cow she turned around and sniffled up her nose,
And give him a dip upon the lip, and the blood run to his toes.

He went to feed the little pig that stands in yonder sty,
He bumped his nose upon the beam, and how the blood did fly.

He went to turn that crock of cream that she left in a frame,
And he forgot the fat in the pot and it all went in a flame.

He went to wind that hank of yarn that she spin yesterday,
And he forgot the speckled hen and so she run astray.

He looked to the East and he looked to the West and he saw the setting sun,
He swore it had been an awful long day and Phoebe hadn't come.

Presently Little Phoebe came and saw him looking sad,
She clapped her hands upon her side and swore that she was glad.

Other versions known as Father Grumble, Old Grumbler, Old Crumley, and More Work in a Day

DT #343
Laws Q1
@work @feminist @animal
recorded by Pete Seeger
filename[ WIFEWOR4
JRO
Oct01^^