No. 3 - Knitting Sextet

Lyrics by Paul A. Rubens

[Orphans:] We are little orphans, you can tell us at a glance,
Lively we intend to be when once we get a chance.
We are never idle as we walk about the street,
Little fingers always moving with our little feet,
Socks or stockings we can make,
Mittens too we undertake.
[Girls:] Then it's drop a stitch and pick one up again
as quickly as you can,
P'raps it is a stocking knitted with a clocking,
To be given to your best young man.
Then it's drop a stitch and pick one up again
as quickly as you can,
[1st. Sopranos:] Stitches there are many,
[2nd. Sopranos:] We can manage any,
[1st. Sopranos:] P'raps it is a plain stitch,
[2nd. Sopranos:] Cross or even chain stitch,
[All:] We must learn to knit, knit, knit, knit, knit, knit.
Then it's drop a stitch and pick one up again
as quickly as you can,
If you learn to knit, knit,
Just a little bit, bit,
You will have a stocking for your best young man.

[Orphans:] When at school in Amsterdam we're very good always,
Yet, somehow, we're diff'rent now we're on our holidays,
But altho' we're full of fun and playful as a turk,
Still in spite of all this, we do not neglect our work,
Knitting comforters or ties,
Any shape or any size.
[Girls:] Then it's drop a stitch and pick one up again
as quickly as you can,
P'raps it is a stocking knitted with a clocking,
To be given to your best young man.
Then it's drop a stitch and pick one up again
as quickly as you can,
[1st. Sopranos:] Stitches there are many,
[2nd. Sopranos:] We can manage any,
[1st. Sopranos:] P'raps it is a plain stitch,
[2nd. Sopranos:] Cross or even chain stitch,
[All:] We must learn to knit, knit, knit, knit, knit, knit.
Then it's drop a stitch and pick one up again
as quickly as you can,
If you learn to knit, knit,
Just a little bit, bit,
You will have a stocking for your best young man.