In every mess I find a friend,
In every port a wife.

In every mess I find a friend,
In every port a wife.

Flesh of thy flesh, nor yet bone of thy bone.

Flesh of thy flesh, nor yet bone of thy bone.

Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead,
To find such numbers who will serve instead:
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Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead,
To find such numbers who will serve instead:
And in whatever state a man be thrown,
'Tis that precisely they would wish their own.

Now voe me I can zing on my business abrode:
Though the storm do beat down on my poll,
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Now voe me I can zing on my business abrode:
Though the storm do beat down on my poll,
There's a wife brighten'd vire at the end of my road,
An' her love, voe the jay o' my soul.

She would rather be an old man's darling than a young man's
warling.

She would rather be an old man's darling than a young man's
warling.

He knows little who will tell his wife all he knows.

He knows little who will tell his wife all he knows.

She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a bonny wee read more

She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a bonny wee thing,
This sweet wee wife o' mine.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the
bread of idleness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the
bread of idleness.

The wife was pretty, trifling, childish, weak;
She could not think, but would not cease to speak.

The wife was pretty, trifling, childish, weak;
She could not think, but would not cease to speak.