The song was made widely known by Burl Ives. I believe it was also poulrized by Arthur Godfrey. It goes like this:


There's a little white duck, sitting in the water. (D - - A)
A little white duck, doing what he oughter         (- - - D)
He took a bite of a lily pad,                      (G - D -)
Flapped his wings and he said, "I'm glad          (E - A -)
I'm a little white duck sitting in the water.      (D - - A)
Quack! Quack! Quack!"                              (- - D -)

There's a little green frog, swimming in the water.
A little green frog, doing what he oughter
He jumped right off the lily pad,
That the little duck bit and he said, "I'm glad
I'm a little green frog swimming in the water.
Glug! Glug! Glug!"

There's a little black bug, floating on the water.
A little black bug, doing what he oughter
He tickled the frog on the lily pad
That the little duck bit and he said, "I'm glad
I'm a little black bug floating on the water.
Bzzz! Bzzz! Bzzz!"

There's a little red snake, laying in the water.
A little red snake, doing what he oughter
He frightened the duck and the frog so bad,
He ate the little bug, and he said, "I'm glad
I'm a little red snake laying in the water.
Ssss! Ssss! Ssss!"

Now there's nobody left, sitting in the water.
Nobody left, doing what he oughter
There's nothing left but the lily pad.
The duck and the frog ran away. I'm sad.
'Cause there's nobody left sitting in the water.
Boo! Hoo! Hoo!