The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #5238   Message #1673441
Posted By: Jim Dixon
19-Feb-06 - 10:18 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Poor Babes in the Woods
Subject: Lyr Add: BABES IN THE WOOD (from Levy collection)
Here's my transcription from the undated sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. Note that it has an introductory verse that has been lost from the "traditional" versions:

BABES IN THE WOOD

CHORUS:
Sweet babes in the wood,
Sweet babes in the wood,
Don't you remember the babes in the wood?

1. When a child on the knee,
How pleased I would be
When my mother related the story to me
Of the babes in the wood,
Sweet babes in the wood.
Don't you remember the babes in the wood?
CHORUS

2. My dear, you must know—
'Twas a long time ago—
There were two little children whose names I don't know
That were stolen away
On a fine summer's day
And left in the wood, as I've heard the folks say.
CHORUS

3. And when it grew night,
How sad was their plight!
The sun it had set and the moon gave no light.
They sobbed and they sighed,
And bitterly cried,
Then, poor little creatures, they laid down and died.
CHORUS

4. Then a robin so red,
When he saw them lay dead,
Brought strawberry leaves and over them spread,
And all the day long,
The branches among,
He plaintively whistled and this was his song:
CHORUS

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