This song goes by many names. It originates in Scotland and is also called Capt. Wedderburn’s Courtship and The Song of the Riddles. Here is Cathie Ryan‘s lively take. If you’re up for a clever older recording, check out the piper Willie Clancy’s version on Minstrel from Clare.

You and I In The One Bed Lie (He Rolled Her To The Wall)

A nobleman’s fair daughter was walking down yon lane
When up comes Captain Dixon, the keeper of the game
Says he unto his serving man, “If it was not for the law
I’d have that maid within my bed and she’d lie next to the wall”

“Go away, young man,” says she, “And do not me perplex
Before I lie one night with you, you’ll answer questions six
Six questions you will answer, and I will make them all
Before you and I in the one bed lie and I lie next to the wall

What is rounder than a ring? What’s higher than a tree?
What is worse than womankind? What’s deeper than the sea?
What tree blooms first? What bird sings best? From where do dew drops fall?
Then it’s you and I in the one bed lie and I lie next to the wall”

“A globe is rounder than a ring, sky higher than a tree
A girl is worse than womankind, hell deeper than the sea
The yew blooms first, the thrush sings best, from heaven the dew drops fall
So it’s you and I in the one bed lie and you lie next to the wall”

“You must get for me some winter fruit that in December grew
Find for me a mantle, a weft it never went through
A sparrow’s horn, a priest unshorn, a bird without a gaul
Then it’s you and I in the one bed lie and I lie next to the wall”

“My father has some winter fruit that in December grew
My mother wears a mantle, a weft it never went through
A sparrow’s horn’s not hard to find, there’s one in every claw
Melchizedek is a priest unshorn,” and he rolled her to the wall