Pretty little Mary, works with pail and broom,
She had to loosen her apron strings to give her belly room,
When in came the Master and unto her did say,
"Oh what is that you've got beneath your apron?"

"Nothing sir, Oh nothing sir, nothing sir" said she,
"It's only a muslin gown my mother gave to me,
I had no place to put it where I could keep it warm,
So I took and tucked it underneath my apron."

Now when some months were over, a baby boy was born,
Was born without a father, without a home at all,
In came the Master and unto her did say,
"Did you get that from underneath your apron?"

"Was it by a tinker, was it by a clown,
Was it by a soldier boy that fights for England's crown?"
"No it was by a sailor that ploughs the angry main,
It was Jacky that popped it underneath me apron."

"Was it in the parlour, was it in the hall,
Was it in the kitchen or in the house at all?"
"No it was in the garden and up against the wall
That Jacky popped it underneath me apron."

Now all you pretty Leiston(?) girls, a warning take from me,
And never trust a sailor lad one inch above your knee,
For if you do you may be sure he'll pull your colours down,
And he'll drop anchor beneath your apron.