The German Clockwinder

A German clockwinder to Dublin once came,
Benjamin Fuchs was the old German's name;
And as he was winding his way 'round the strand,
He played on his flute and the music was grand.

Singing tour a loom a loom a,
Tour a loom looma,tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.
Tour a loom a loom a, tour a loom looma, tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.

There was an old lady in Grosvenor Square,
Who said that her clock was in need of repair;
In walked the old German and to her delight,
In less than five minutes he had her clock right.

Singing tour a loom a loom a,
Tour a loom looma,tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.
Tour a loom a loom a, tour a loom looma, tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.

Now, as they were sitting down there on the floor,
There came a very loud knock on the door;
In walked her husband and great was his shock,
To see that old German wind up his wife's clock.

Singing tour a loom a loom a,
Tour a loom looma,tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.
Tour a loom a loom a, tour a loom looma, tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.

The husband said, "Now, look here Mary Ann,
Don't let that old German come in here again;
He wound up your clock but left mine on the shelf;
If your old clock needs winding, I'll wind it my self."

Singing tour a loom a loom a,
Tour a loom looma,tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.
Tour a loom a loom a, tour a loom looma, tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.

Then says the German, "Sure I meant you no harm,
But the spring wouldn't work in your old wife's alarm;
I pulled out me oil can and I gave it a squirt,
If you keep it well-oiled, your wife's clock will work!"

Singing tour a loom a loom a,
Tour a loom looma,tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.
Tour a loom a loom a, tour a loom looma, tour a lie ay,
Tour a lie your a lie, your a lie ay.

####.... Author unknown. Variant of a mid-twentieth century song collected by Peter Kennedy and published as #201 in Folksongs Of Britain And Ireland (1975) ....####

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