The poor old pair of breeches

O! With forty yards of cotton cloth, with forty yards of cotton cloth,
They made, they made, they made a pair of breeches.
O! The crutch it dangled very long, the crutch it dangled very long,
And swept, and swept, and swept the lower reaches.

The poor old pair of breeches, which sweep the lower reaches.
And who will take them for you down to the lake to wash them?
And who is going to lay them to dry out in the hot sun?
And where's the able woman who'll iron out the creases?
And who will fold them for you, your long and dangly breeches?

O! When I was thirteen years of age, when I was thirteen years of age,
My breech-, my breech-, my breeches I'd be wearing.
O! I'd tour the village secretly, I'd tour the village secretly,
To hide, to hide, to hide from neighbours staring.

The poor old pair of breeches...

O! Instead of marrying a man, instead of marrying a man
Who goes, who goes, who goes around in breeches.
O! Prefer to wed a trousers man, prefer to wed a trousers man,
Though he, though he, though he may be in patches.

The poor old pair of breeches...

O! Instead of marrying a man, instead of marrying a man
Who is, who is, who is in trousers striding.
O! Prefer to wed a breeches man, prefer to wed a breeches man,
Though he, though he, though he can't earn a farthing.

The poor old pair of breeches...