"Counting Song"
[a.k.a. "The Spanish
Lady" or "Wheel Of Fortune" or "Dublin City" or
"Twenty Eighteen"]
Words & Music:
Traditional
This is traditionally sung
acappella.
VERSION 1: as sung by Natalie Merchant &
Michael Stipe
[He] On yonder hill, there lives
a lassie and her name I do not know.
[He] One fine day, I'm going
to find her, whether she be rich or poor.
CHORUS:
[She] 'Round and 'round on the
wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round on
the wheel in me
[Both] Young women's hearts
are so uncertain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches
me.
[He] 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7,
and a 5, 3, 1
[She] 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10,
8, 6, 4, 2, none.
[He] Lassie, I've got gold
& silver; lassie, I've got gooses & land.
[He] Lassies, I've got ships
on the ocean all to sail at your command.
CHORUS:
[Both] 'Round and 'round on
the wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round
turnthe wheel for me
[She] Young women's hearts are
so uncertain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches
me.
[She] 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9,
7, and a 5, 3, 1
[He] 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10,
8, 6, 4, 2, none.
CHORUS:
[Both] 'Round and 'round on
the wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round turn
the wheel on me
[Both] Young women's hearts
are so uncertain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches
me.
[She] I don't want your gold
or silver, I don't want your gooses or land.
[She] I don't want your ships
on the ocean, all I want's a good young man.
[He] 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7,
and a 5, 3, 1
[She] 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10,
8, 6, 4, 2, none.
CHORUS:
[Both] 'Round and 'round on the
wheel of fortune;
[Both] 'Round and 'round 'turn
the wheel on me
[Both] Young women's hearts
are so uncertain,
[Both] Sad experience teaches
me.
VERSION 2: From Idir An D‡ Sholas - Between The
Two Lights
Titled "The Spanish
Lady"
As I was walking through
Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at
night
It was there I saw a fair
pretty female
Washing her feet by
candlelight
First she washed them, then
she dried them
Over a fire of ambery coals
And in all my life I never did
see
A maid so neat about the soles
CHORUS:
She had twenty eighteen
sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two
none
She had nineteen seventeen
fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three
and one
I stopped to look but the
watchman passed
Says he, "Young fellow,
now the night is late
And along with you home or I
will wrestle you
Straight away to the Bridewell
gate
I got a look from the Spanish
lady
Hot as a fire of ambery coals
And in all my life I never did
see
A maid so neat about the soles
CHORUS:
As I walked back through Dublin
City
As the dawn of day was o'er
Oh whom should I spy but the
Spanish lady
When I was weary and footsore
She had a heart so filled with
loving
And her love she longed to
share
And in all my life I never did
meet
A maid who had so much to
spare
CHORUS:
I have wandered north and I've
wandered south
By Stoneybatter and Patrick's
Close
And up and around by the
Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hand upon
me
Cold as a fire of ashey coals
And gone is the lovely Spanish
lady
Neat and sweet about the soles
'Round and around goes the
wheel of fortune
Where it rests now wearies me
Oh fair young maids are so
deceiving
Sad experience teaches me
CHORUS:
VERSION 3: as sung by
Gordon Bok
Titled: "WHEEL OF
FORTUNE" or "DUBLIN CITY"
As I was a-walking through
Dublin City
About the hour of twelve at
night
It was there I saw a fair,
pretty maiden
Washing her feet by candle
light
First she washed them and then
she dried them
And around her shoulder she
pegged the towel
And in all my life I ne'er did
see
Such a fine lass in all the
world
She had twenty, eighteen,
sixteen, fourteen
Twelve, ten , eight, six,
four, two, none
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen,
thirteen
Eleven, nine, seven, five,
three, and one
Round and round the wheel of
fortune
Where it stops wearies me
Fair maids they are so
deceiving
Sad experience teaches me
Oh, but tides do be running
the whole world over
Why, tis only last June month,
I mind that we
Were thinking the call in the
breast of the lover
So everlasting as the sea
But there's the same little
fishes that swims and spin
And the same old moon on the
cold wet sand
And I no more to she, nor she
to me
Than the cool wind passing
over my hand
VERSION 4: Titled: "Twenty, Eighteen"
Source: Broadwood, L,
1893, English County Songs, London, Leadenhall Press
"Ho! yonder stands a
charming creature,
Who she is I do not know,
I'll go court her for her
beauty,
Until she do say yes or
no."
Twenty, eighteen, sixteen,
fourteen,
Twelve, ten, eight, six four,
two, nought;
Nineteen, seventeen, fifteen,
thirteen,
Eleven, nine and seven, five,
three and one.
"Ho! Madam, I am come to
court you,
If your favour I may gain;
And if you will entertain me
Perhaps I may come this way
again."
"Ho! Madam I have rings
and jewels,
Madam I have house and land,
Madam, I have wealth and
treasures,
All shall be at your
command."
"Ho! what care I for your
rings and jewels?
What care I for your house and
land?
What care I for your wealth
and treasures?
All I want is a handsome
man."
"Ho! first come cowslips
and then come daisies,
First comes night and then
comes day;
First comes the new love, and
then comes the old one,
And so we pass our time
away."
"Ho! the ripest apple is
the soonest rotten,
THe hottest love is the
soonest cold;
Lover's vows are soon
forgotten,
So I pray, young man, be not
so bold."