Weile Waile

Trad

There was an old woman and she lived in the woods
Weile weile waile
There was an old woman and she lived in the woods
Down by the river Saile

Well, she had a baby three months old
Weile weile waile
She had a baby three months old
Down by the river Saile

And she had a pen knife long and sharp
Weile weile waile
She had a pen knife long and sharp
Down by the river Saile

Then she stuck the pen knife in the babys heart
Weile weile waile
She stuck the pen knife in the babys heart
Down by the river Saile

There were three loud knocks come a’knockin on the door
Weile weile waile
Three loud knocks come a’knockin on the door
Down by the river Saile

There were two policemen and a special-branchman
Weile weile waile
Two policemen and a special-branchman
Down by the river Saile

So they put a rope around her neck
Weile weile waile
They put a rope around her neck
Down by the river Saile

Then they pulled the rope and she got hung
Weile weile waile
They pulled the rope and she got hung
Down by the river Saile

Well, that was the end of the woman in the woods
Weile weile waile
And that was the end of the baby too
Down by the river Saile

The children in the tenements of Dublin are very wise. Since there is no place to hide anything from them, they know all the secrets of life before they are four years old. One might hear these children singing this charming song while sitting on the steps of the tenements.