The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

There's a Hole in the Bucket

There's a hole in the bucket dear Liza, dear Liza, there's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza -- a hole.
We'll mend it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, we'll mend it dear Henry, dear Henry mend it.
With what shall I mend it dear Liza, dear Liza, with what shall I mend it dear Liza with what?
With a straw dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a straw dear Henry a straw.
But the straw is too long dear Liza, dear Liza, but the straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.
We'll cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, we'll cut it dear Henry, cut it.
With what shall I cut it dear Liza, dear Liza, with what shall I cut it, dear Liza with what?
With an ax dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry with an ax dear Henry an ax.
But the ax is too dull dear Liza, dear Liza, but the ax is too dull, dear Liza too dull.
We'll sharpen it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, we'll sharpen it dear Henry sharpen it.
With what shall I sharpen it dear Liza, dear Liza, with what shall I sharpen it, dear Liza with what?
With a stone dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a stone, dear Henry a stone.
But the stone is too dry dear Liza, dear Liza but the stone is too dry, dear Liza too dry.
We'll wet it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, we'll wet it, dear Henry wet it.
With what shall I wet it dear Liza, dear Liza, with what shall I wet it, dear Liza with what?
With water dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry with water, dear Henry, dear Henry water.
With what shall I fetch it dear Liza, dear Liza, with what shall I fetch it dear Liza, with what?
With a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, with a bucket, dear Henry a bucket.
But there's a hole in the bucket dear Liza, dear Liza, there's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza a. . .hole.

Submitter comment:

Learned in Charlevoix, Michigan, from a friend, summer of 1963.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CHARLEVOIX