This seems to be yet anther version. Liz recorded it on our first CD. I think her words are the same as in Alfred Williams' 'Folksongs of the Upper Thames'. Her version may be from an old Yorkshire collection.

TWO BABES IN THE WOOD

Did you ever hear tell, a long time ago,
Of two pretty babies, their names I don't know?
They were stolen away, one sunshiny day,
These two pretty babies were lost on their way.

Now when it was night, how sad was their plight!
The stars did not shine, and the moon gave no light;
They sobbed and they sighed, they sat down and cried,
And then these poor babies they lay down and died.

The robin so red, when he saw them lie dead,
Gathered strawberry leaves and over them spread;
And all the day long, where the green branches hung,
This pretty Bob whistled, and this was his song:


Pretty babes in the wood!
Pretty babes in the wood!
Did you ever hear tell of two babes in the wood?

Strange song when all's said and done…