The loveliest maidens in the land,
Girls in rags and ladies grand,
All go wandering down the Strand,
Ding, dong, ding!
To look for pearls in oyster-shells
And listen to Saint Martin's bells,
Ding, dong, ding!
Some get amber, some get jet,
Silver fish-scales others get
In a golden fishing-net,
Ding, dong, ding!
Some find crowns of seaweed there
And flowers of coral for their hair,
Ding, dong, ding!
All day long they have delight,
Then the Thames flows in at night
And sweeps the maidens out of sight.
Ding, dong, ding!
Down the Strand their lovely knells
Echo from Saint Martin's bells,
Ding, dong, ding!
Ding, dong, ding!
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