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(to the tune of "Clementine")

1. Said the father to his children At the seder you will dine You will eat your fill of matzah You will drink four cups of wine. 2. Now this father had no daughters But his sons, they numbered four One was wise and one was wicked One was simple and a bore. 3. And the fourth was sweet and winsome He was young and he was small While his brothers asked the questions He could scarcely speak at all. 4. Said the wise son to his father "Would you please explain the laws Or the customs of the Seder Will you please explain the cause?" 5. And the father proudly answered, "As our fathers ate in speed, Ate the Paschal lamb 'ere midnight And from slavery were freed." 6. "So we follow their example And 'ere midnight must complete All the Seder; and we should not After twelve remain to eat." 7. Then did sneer the son so wicked "What does all this mean to you?" And the father's voice was bitter As his grief and anger grew. 8. If yourself you don't consider As a son of Israel Then for you this has no meaning You could be a slave as well." 9. Then the simple son said softly, "What is this?" and quietly The good father told his offspring "We were freed from slavery." 10. But the youngest son was silent For he could not ask at all. And his eyes were bright with wonder As his father told him all. 11. Now dear children, heed the lesson And remember ever more What the father told his children Told his sons who numbered four.