Zulaika

Zulaika was lovely to see
A young Persian maiden was she
She lived in Baghdad where the men are all bad
But none was so bad as she
(Repeat: She lived in Baghdad where the men are all bad
But none was so bad as she)

Her husband was very old
With millions in silver and gold
He locked her away by night and by day
For Persians are very bold

On her head she wore a turban
Which came from the fields of Iran
Where no one could see she kept a small key
Which she threw out again and again

The first time she threw out the key
It fell by the old banyon tree
She sighed and she cried till the door opened wide
And in walked her lover, Ali

The next time she threw the key out
It fell by the old water spout
She sighed and she cried till the door opened wide
And in walked her lover, Mahout

She threw out the ket once again
Expecting her lover Suleiman
She sighed and she cried, then the door opened wide
And in walked a whole caravan

The leader bowed his head low
Waiting her wishes to know
At last she did say, "Well most of you stay
--But the Children and Camels must go!"

She finished with all of the men
Her appetite not at an end
She sighed and she cried, and flung the door wide
"Bring the children and the camels back in!"

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