Full Merrily Sings the Cuckoo

[The earliest copy of this playful song is one contained in a MS. of the reign of James I., preserved amongst the registers of the Stationers’ Company; but the song can be traced back to 1566.]

Full merrily sings the cuckoo
   Upon the beechen tree;
Your wives you well should look to,
   If you take advice of me.
Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the morn,
   When of married men
   Full nine in ten
Must be content to wear the horn.

Full merrily sings the cuckoo
   Upon the oaken tree;
Your wives you well should look to,
   If you take advice of me.
Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the day!
   For married men
   But now and then,
Can ’scape to bear the horn away.

Full merrily sings the cuckoo
   Upon the ashen tree;
Your wives you well should look to,
   If you take advice of me.
Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the noon,
   When married men
   Must watch the hen,
Or some strange fox will steal her soon.

Full merrily sings the cuckoo
   Upon the alder tree;
Your wives you well should look to,
   If you take advice of me.
Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the eve,
   When married men
   Must bid good den
To such as horns to them do give.

Full merrily sings the cuckoo
   Upon the aspen tree;
Your wives you well should look to,
   If you take advice of me.
Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the night,
   When married men,
   Again and again,
Must hide their horns in their despite.