Bluegrass Messengers

I Have Four Sisters- BBC Recording 1972

I Have Four Sisters- from Singing Together, Autumn 1972, BBC Publications

I have four sisters beyond the sea,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
And they each sent a present to me,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

Chorus:
Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

The first sent a chicken, without e'er a bone,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
The second a cherry, without e'er a stone,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

The third sent a book which no man could read,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
The fourth sent a blanket, without e'er a thread,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

How can there be a chicken, without e'er a bone?
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
How can there be a cherry, without e'er a stone?
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

How can there be a book which no man can read?
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
How can there be a blanket, without e'er a thread?
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

When the chicken's in the egg-shell there is no bone,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
When the cherry's in the bud, there is no stone.
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie.

When the book's in the press, no man can read,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
When the blanket's in the fleece there is no thread.
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie.