Fortune presents gifts not according to the book

Fortune presents gifts not according to the book

When you expect whistles it's flutes

When you expect flutes it's whistles

What various paths are followed in distributing honours and possessions

She gives awards to some and penitent's cloaks to others

When you expect whistles it's flutes

When you expect flutes it's whistles

Sometimes she robs the chief goatherd of his cottage and goat pen

And to whomever she fancies the lamest goat has born two kids

When you expect whistles it's flutes

When you expect flutes it's whistles

Because in a village a poor lad has stolen one egg

He swings in the sun and another gets away with a thousand crimes

When you expect whistles it's flutes

When you expect flutes it's whistles