A Modern Hiawatha
or:
How to make fur mittens
David W Solomons
The original poem is shown as "anonymous" in Comic and Curious verse, but others attribute it to the 19th Century cleric Rev. George Strong.
This composition dates from the early days of the dwsChorale, before the basses and tenors "joined", so it is for four equal voices at alto pitch. A version for four tenors also exists.
The score can be obtained at Musica Neo
When he killed the Mudjokivis.
Of the skin he made him mittens,
Made them with the fur side inside,
Made them with the skin side outside.
He, to get the warm side inside,
Put the cold side skin side outside.
He, to get the cold side outside,
Put the warm side fur side inside.
That's why he put the fur side inside,
Why he put the skin side outside,
Why he turned them inside outside.