Mother's Lament

Capo on 5th   A one a two a phree a pho--ah...   A mother was washing her baby one night;   The youngest of ten and a delicate mite.   The mother was poor and the baby was thin;   ’Twas naught but a skeleton covered with skin.   The mother turned ’round for a soap off the rack.   She was only a moment but when she turned back   Her baby had gone and in anguish she cried   "Oh where has my baby gone?" The angels replied:   Oh your baby has gone down the plug hole.   Your baby has gone down the plug.   The poor little thing was so skinny and thin   He should have been washed in a jug in a jug.   Your baby is perfectly happy;         He won’t need a bath anymore.   He’s a-muckin’ about with the angels above   Not lost but gone before.