Hi winterbright,

We used to sing this one in school choir, about 30 years ago. I have it in the book we used for choir. It's called The Waits or Past Three O'clock to the tune of London Waits from the time of Charles II. The words are by J. Oxenford.

Past three o'clock!
Young maidens are sleeping,
Scarcely they close
Their bright beaming eyes;
May our soft numbers
Cheer you, but break not
Innocent slumbers,
Hear us but wake not!

Past three o'clock!
And a cold frosty morning,
Past three o'clock!
Good morrow, Masters all!

Our teacher told us that the Waits were the people who walked around the streets at night calling out the time, or the practice of doing this, before everyone had clocks in their houses.

There are 2 other verses which I can type in if you want them.

Helen