I have four sisters beyond the sea,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
And they each sent a present to me,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

Chorus:
Petrum, Partrum, Paradisi, Temporie,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

The first sent a chicken, without e'er a bone,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
The second a cherry, without e'er a stone,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

The third sent a book which no man could read,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
The fourth sent a blanket, without e'er a thread,
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

How can there be a chicken, without e'er a bone?
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
How can there be a cherry, without e'er a stone?
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

How can there be a book which no man can read?
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
How can there be a blanket, without e'er a thread?
Perrie, Merrie, Dixie, Dominie.

When the chicken's in the egg-shell there is no bone,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
When the cherry's in the bud, there is no stone.
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie.

When the book's in the press, no man can read,
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie;
When the blanket's in the fleece there is no thread.
Perrie, Merrie Dixie, Dominie.

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Singing Together, Autumn 1972, BBC Publications

Notes:
This is clearly of the riddling-song tradition, like many of the low-numbered Child ballads but the riddles themselves more closely match "Captain Wedderburn's Courtship" (Child 46). "I gave my love a cherry" is probably the closest match.

Roud: 597 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: