I went a-gathering, a-gathering, a-gathering,
I went a-gathering, and what did you find?
A cock-a-doodle feather,
A locket made of leather,
A pocket full of weather, and I left it all behind.

I went a-gathering, a-gathering, a-gathering,
I went a-gathering, and what did you find?
A packet from a tea-store,
A shell upon the sea shore,
A baby on a see-saw, and I left them all behind.

I went a-gathering, a-gathering, a-gathering,
I went a-gathering, and what did you find?
A web without the spider,
A jug without the cider,
A horse without the rider, and I left them all behind.