Said the farmer to his wife
Yo hi de Yo hi da
Boy you lead an easy life
Yo hi de Yo hi da

Here beside the hearth you stay
Close at home the live long day

Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da
Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da

Stay you here the good wife said
Yo hi de Yo hi da
In the fields I'll work instead
Yo hi de Yo hi da

I will go and run the plow
You can stay and milk the cow

Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da
Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da

So he tried to milk the cow
Yo hi de Yo hi da
He didn't know exactly how
Yo hi de Yo hi da

Boss he thought you clumsy lout
She spilled the pail and kicked him out

Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da
Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da

Then he tried to make a cake
Yo hi de Yo hi da
He put it in the stove to bake
Yo hi de Yo hi da

Ne're the less for all his care
Burned himself both here and there

Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da
Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da

When his wife came home that night
Yo hi de Yo hi da
Farmer was a sorry sight
Yo hi de Yo hi da

Wife said he tomorrow day
Here at home I beg you stay

Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da
Yo hi de hi de hi da
Yo hi de Yo hi da