The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THERE'S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET

THERE'S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET, DEAR HENRY, DEAR HENRY, THERE'S A
HOLE IN MY BUCKET, DEAR HENRY, A HOLE.
WELL FIX IT, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, WELL FIX IT, DEAR LIZA,
DEAR LIZA, FIX IT.
WITH WHAT SHALL I FIX IT, DEAR HENRY, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT
SHALL I FIX IT, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT?
WITH STRAW, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, WITH STRAW, DEAR LIZA,
DEAR LIZA, WITH STRAW.
WITH SHALL I CUT IT, DEAR HENRY, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT SHALL
I CUT IT, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT?
WITH A KNIFE, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, WITH A KNIFE, DEAR
LIZA, DEAR LIZA, A KNIFE.
WITH WHAT SHALL I SHARPEN IT, DEAR HENRY, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT
SHALL I SHARPEN IT, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT?
WITH A STONE, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, WITH A STONE,
DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, A STONE.
WITH WHAT SHALL I WET IT, DEAR HENRY, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT
SHALL I WET IT, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT?
WITH WATER, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, WITH WATER, DEAR
LIZA, DEAR LIZA, WATER
WITH WHAT SHALL I FETCH IT, DEAR HENRY, DEAR HENRY, WITH
WHAT SHALL I FETCH IT, DEAR HENRY, WITH WHAT?
WITH A BUCKET, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, WITH A BUCKET,
DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA, A BUCKET.
THERE'S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET, DEAR HENRY, DEAR HENRY, THERE'S
A HOLE IN MY BUCKET, DEAR HENRY, A HOLE.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS SONG IN THE DAY CAMPS IN THE CHICAGO AREA.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DORMS

Keyword(s): CHAIN SONG ; PURE DIALOGUE ; QUESTION AND ANSWER STRUCTURE