The Five Sisters

Nineteen souls left camp at first light

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, nineteen souls left camp at first light

Two men red and twelve men white

And we five sisters along for the plight

Spinning a quilt on a loom

Fourteen lads they led on the trail

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, fourteen lads they led on the trail

(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven

Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen)

When the oxen and wagons and weather did fail

Yet we five sisters were plucky and hale

Humming a widowy tune

Two of the lads had holes in their shoes

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, two of the lads had holes in their shoes

(One, two, three, four, five, six

Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve)

And their toes went black and their soles went blue

Yet we five sisters as well-heeled as Jews

Danced in the light of the moon

Three of the lads came down with a cough

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, three of the lads came down with a cough

(Two, four, six, eight, nine)

And they wheezed in fits 'til their heads fell off

Yet we five sisters were twirling aloft

Riding the stick of a broom

One of the lads went mad in the night

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, one of the lads went mad in the night

(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight)

And he cut off his clothes and his beard with a knife

Yet we five sisters were bundled up tight

And slept like a babe in a womb

Two of the lads went thin as a bone

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, two of the lads went thin as a bone

(One, two, three, four, five, six)

And their tongues went thick and their guts went moan

Yet we five sisters knew nary a groan

And purred like a black cat in June

Two of the lads, they picked up a gun

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, two of the lads, they picked up a gun

(One, two, three, four)

And shot down the hill where the other two ran

Yet we five sisters, as pious as nuns

Blushed as the powder went boom!

Boom

The last two lads were a murderous sight

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, the last two lads were a murderous sight

(One, two)

And tore at the Miwoks for liver and lights

Yet we five sisters, so prim and polite

Sat with a napkin and spoon

One by one, they all met their fate

Sing toil and trouble and doom

Yes, one by one, they all met their fate

(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven

Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen)

Fourteen lads, so grave and so great

Yet we five sisters, with veils and with plates

Lay down a quilt on their tomb

One, two, three, four, five