Perrie, Merrie, Dixi, Domini- Jenks(MI-OK) pre1923
[My date based on info from notes. From the Moores; Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest, 1964. The Moores notes follow.
R. Matteson 2014]
Perrie, Merrie, Dixi, Domini: It has been pointed out frequently that this song is an example of the influence of Latin on folk songs. Variants and references are to be found in Barry, Eckstorm, and smyth, 99; Eddy, No. 4; Gardner and Chickering, 453-54; Henry, 25; Journal, vol. XXIX,I57-59 (Tolman); Linscott, 267-69; Randolph, I, 432-33; and Sharp, II, 190-91.
Perrie, Merrie, Dixi, Domini- sung by Mrs. W. F. Lawson of Jenks. Mrs. Lawson, who was born at St. Marys, Pennsylvania, moved to Oklahoma in 1923.
[music]
I had four brothers over the sea,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini;
They each sent a present unto me,
Petrum, partrum, Paradisi, tempore,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini.
They first sent a cherry without a stone,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini;
The second sent a chicken without a bone,
Petrum, partrum, Paradisi, tempore,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini.
The third sent a blanket without a thread,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini;
The fourth sent a book that no man hath read,
Petrum, partrum, Paradisi, tempore,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini.
When the cherry's in bloom, there is no stone,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini;
When the chicken's in the shell, it hath no bone,
Petrum, partrum, Paradisi, tempore,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini.
When the blanket's on the sheep, there is no thread,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini;
When the book is in the press, no man hath read,
Petrum, partrum, Paradisi, tempore,
Perrie, merrie, dixi, Domini.