Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits.
From: GUEST,John Greaves
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 04:40 PM

I wrote a song about rabbit pie which is on the Yorkshire Garland website, I remember living on very thin rabbits through the 1947 winter,we were snowed up for 8 weeks and 2 days. I wont touch them now. It is a thoroughly silly song but quite fun to sing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 08:01 PM

Another variant on the one Susan and Monique posted' from my days as a Gifl Guide around the campfire, also complete with actions:

In a cottage in a wood,
Little old man at the window stood,
Saw a rabbit running by,
Knocking at his door.
"Help me! Help me! Help me!" he said,
All those guns will shoot me dead,
"Come, little rabbit, come to me,
Happy we shall be".

And another from my grandson's pre-school singarounds:
(To the tune of John Brown's body/Glory Hallelujah)
Little Peter Rabbit had a fly uppn his nose, (x3),
So he flipped it and he flopped it and the fly flew away.

And one from Children's Favourites on "the wireless" all those years ago, especially popular around Easter time, instead of Easter eggs,
The Chocolate Rabbit. (Will post words later).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Sep 20 - 08:15 PM

Seems I posted the first of those 3 songs in the girl scout thread that has just popped up again, 10 years ago! Guide's honour, not a copy and paste, but exactly the same words. What I had forgotten was that, as well as doing actions, we used to omit one line more of the singing (but still do the actions) on repeating the song each time, until we got to no singing, just miming!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits.
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 23 Sep 20 - 05:58 AM

Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and first recorded by Big Mama Thornton in 1952.

You ain't nothing but a hound dog
Crying all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 10:18 AM

Here is the chocolate rabbit song:

My Chocolate Rabbit

I got a chocolate rabbit
For an Easter treat.
A great big chocolate rabbit
Good enough to eat.

So I ate his ears on Sunday
His nose I finished Monday
Tuesday I nibbled on his feet
I ate his tail on Wednesday
Thursday, Friday I kept on
By Saturday evening he was gone.

Oh I loved my chocolate rabbit
From the moment that he came
And if I get another one
I'll love him just the same.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits.
From: Nick
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 03:08 PM

ABBA with colds Bunny, Bunny, Bunny

CSNY Helplessly Hopping

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 06:20 PM

Oops: I copied the lyrics of Chocolate Rabbit from a website, but they've missed a couple of lines out!!!
Here is a better version!

Chocolate Rabbit

I got a chocolate rabbit
For an Easter treat,
A great big chocolate rabbit,
Good enough to eat.

So I ate his ears on Sunday,
his nose I finished Monday,
And Tuesday I nibbled on his feet.
I ate his tail on Wednesday,
Thursday I kept on,
By Friday he was going,
Saturday he was gone.

Oh, I loved that chocolate rabbit,
From the moment that he came,
And if I get another one,
I'll love him just the same.

Subject: Lyr Add: BLUES JUMPED A RABBIT (Noone/Page/Harris)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Feb 21 - 08:32 PM

THE BLUES JUMPED A RABBIT
(Jimmie Noone)
As recorded by Jimmie Noone and His Orchestra, with vocal by Guy Kelly, on Decca (18439 A), 1936.

The blues jumped a rabbit, run him a solid mile.
Ah, the blues jumped a rabbit, run him a solid mile.
That poor fella lied down, was cryin’ like a natural child.

[You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive.]


THE BLUES JUMPED THE RABBIT
(Oran Page)
As recorded by [Oran] “Hot Lips” Page and His Orchestra, with vocal by Page, on Commodore Classics in Swing (593 A), 1947.

When you lose your money, please don’t lose your mind.
When you lose your woman, please don’t mess with mine.

Well, the blues jumped the rabbit an’ he ran him a solid mile.
Well, the blues jumped the rabbit, ran him a solid mile.
Well, the rabbit set down, crawled like a natural child.

Good as I treat you, baby, what you do can’t be sound.
Good as I treat you, baby, way you treat me can’t be sound.
You gonna give me my money, you stop runnin’ all around.

Hey, call me, baby; call me on the telephone.
Call me, baby; call me on the telephone,
‘Cause if I don’t love you, baby, I love you better’n a honky(?) dog love a beggar(?) bone.

[You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive.]


MR. BLUES JUMPED THE RABBIT
(Wynonie Harris)
As recorded by Wynonie “Mr. Blues” Harris and His All-Stars on Aladdin Jazz Series (171A), 1947.

Mister Blues jumped the rabbit an’ run him for one solid mile.
Yes, Mister Blues jumped the rabbit an’ run him for one solid mile.
Well, the blues saw the rabbit, he cried like a baby child.

He said: Please, Mister Blues, don’t treat Mister Rabbit so bad.
Please, Mister Blues, don’t treat Mister Rabbit so bad.
Don’t you know it’s the first blues that I’ve ever had?

Yes, Mister Rabbit, he’s learned his lesson at last.
Yes, Mister Rabbit, you learned your lesson at last.
You can’t outrun the blues; you just can’t run that fast.

Run, Mister Rabbit.
Run, Mister Rabbit.
Run, Mister Rabbit.
Run, Mister Rabbit.

Old Mister Rabbit, he’s got the blues in the night.
Yes, old Mister Rabbit, he’s got the blues in the night.
Yeah, I know how you feel; [my gal don’t?] treat me right.

[You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive.]

Subject: Lyr Add: MISTER RABBIT / MR. RABBIT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Feb 21 - 04:53 PM

Two more versions of the song posted by oldhippie back on 26-Feb-2007:

From On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs by Dorothy Scarborough (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1925), page 174, where it appears with musical notation for the melody line:


MISTER RABBIT

1. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, yo’ ears mighty long.”
“Yes, my lawd, dey’re put on wrong!
Every little soul must shine, shine, shine.
Every little soul must shine, shine, shine.”

2. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, yo’ coat mighty grey.”
“Yes, my lawd, ‘twas made dat way!...”

3. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, yo’ feet mighty red.”
“Yes, my lawd, I’m a-almost dead!…”

4. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, yo’ tail mighty white.”
“Yes, my lawd, an’ I’m a-gittin’ out o’ sight!…”


MR. RABBIT
As recorded by Burl Ives on Columbia (90050-V), 1949, which can be heard at the Internet Archive.
(Apparently part of a series called “Animal Fair (Songs for Children)”)

SPOKEN: Here, here, Mister Rabbit, I want to talk to you!

1. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your coat’s mighty gray.”
“Yes, bless God, it’s made that way.
Ev’ry little soul must shine, shine
Ev’ry little soul must shine, shine.”

2. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your ears are mighty long.”
Yes, bless God, they’re put on wrong….”

3. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your ears are mighty thin.”
Yes, bless God, they’re splittin’ the wind….”

4. “Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit, your eyes are mighty red.”
Yes, bless God, I’m almost dead….”

Subject: Lyr Add: MY CHOC’LATE RABBIT / MY CHOCOLATE RABBIT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Feb 21 - 05:45 PM

A more complete version of the song posted by Tattie Bogle on 24-Sep-2020:


MY CHOC’LATE RABBIT
(Gerald Marks, Milton Pascal)
As recorded by Rosemary Clooney on Columbia (90101-V), 1951, which can be heard at the Internet Archive.

I got a brand-new Easter outfit,
A coat and hat and all the rest,
But there was one thing more from the candy store
That I really loved the best.

I got a chocolate rabbit
For a special treat,
A great big chocolate rabbit
Sweet enough to eat.
So I ate his ears on Sunday,
His nose I finished Monday,
And Tuesday I nibbled on his feet.

I ate his tail on Wednesday.
Thursday, I kept on.
By Friday he was going.
Saturday he was gone.
Oh, I loved my chocolate rabbit
From the moment that he came,
And if I get another one,
I'll love him just the same.

Subject: Lyr Add: RABBIT IN THE PEA PATCH (Pickard Family)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 15 Feb 21 - 06:05 PM

RABBIT IN THE PEA PATCH
As recorded by The Pickard Family on Jewel (5508-B) and Banner (S-6283-B), 1928.

CHORUS: Rabbit in the pea patch pickin’ out peas.
Rabbit in the pea patch pickin’ out peas.
Get away rabbit, get away, please.
Thought I heard that chicken sneeze. REPEAT.

Listen folks did you ever hear
Story ‘bout ol’ farmer Greer?
Planted a pea patch ten mile wide.
That pea patch was the old man’s pride.
Worked it ‘cause his hair was gray
From early morn till close of day.
Rabbit got in and couldn’t get ‘im out.
Ever’body heard the old man shout. CHORUS

Ol’ Miss Rabbit had a mighty habit
Flittin’ in the garden an’ eatin’ those cabbage.
Behind that hen-house on my knees
Thought I heard that chicken sneeze.
Rabbit run, rabbit true.
Rabbit’s story’s changin’ too.
Nothin’ but the rooster sayin’ his prayers,
Givin’ out a hymn an’ gettin’ upstairs. CHORUS


[There are other versions of RABBIT IN THE PEA PATCH posted in these old threads:
Lyr Req: Rabbit in the Pea Patch from 1999.
Lyr Add: Mistah Rabbit Patting rhyme from 2007.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RABBIT WITH THE TWO BUCK TEETH
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Feb 21 - 06:32 PM

THE RABBIT WITH THE TWO BUCK TEETH
Words and music by Jimmie Dale & Roger Genger.
As recorded by Mervin Shiner on Decca (27977), 1952, which you can hear at the Internet Archive.

Did you see the rabbit with the two buck teeth?
Did you ever count the carrots that rabbit could eat?
Now it may sound strange, but I have been told
Since he ate fourteen carrots, he is worth his weight in gold.

Did you ever see the rabbit with the two buck teeth?
Did you ever meet a rabbit with so much conceit?
Now he puffs his chest as he walks around,
‘Cause he owns all the cabbage and the lettuce his town.

Now it doesn’t seem right and we all agree
That a rabbit should never gloat.
With his eyes so bright, he laughs with glee
When he says: “I’m the rabbit with my own fur coat.”

Did you ever see the rabbit with the two buck teeth?
Now he has a funny habit: shakes hands with his feet.
Some people think it’s sweet, but wait until you meet
The rabbit with the two buck teeth.

Subject: Lyr Add: RUN LITTLE RABBIT (Cab Calloway)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Feb 21 - 07:18 PM

RUN LITTLE RABBIT
(A. Gibson)
As recorded by Cab Calloway and his Orchestra on Okeh (6084), 1941, which you can hear at the Internet Archive.

Run, little rabbit.
Hit the road, little rabbit.
Got done(?), big rabbit.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Find a log, little rabbit.
I got my dog, little rabbit.
You’re in the fog, little rabbit.
* * * * *

You may dodge and Susie-Q,
But I’ll boogie-woogie after you.
You better not sit; you better not sigh.
I’ll run you round and shoot you down and fry your hide.

You better run, big rabbit.
Hit the road, big rabbit.
I got my gun, big rabbit.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!


[Asterisks represent “bangs” on a drum.]

Subject: Lyr Add: BENNY THE BOB TAILED BUNNY (G MacKenzie)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 21 - 11:29 PM

BENNY THE BOB TAILED BUNNY
Words and music by Brad Browne & Irving Bibo.
As recorded by Gisele MacKenzie on Capitol #1997, 1952, which you can hear at the Internet Archive.

[A] Benny the bunny, that funny little bunny,
Benny the bob-tailed bunny—
If you’ve been good, you’re on his list,
So when Easter comes around you won’t be missed.
Benny the bunny, he’ll make your day so sunny
When you jump out of bed,
For you’ll find eggs upon your chair,
On the stair, most ev’rywhere,
And who do you think it is that paints and puts them there?
It’s Benny the bob-tailed bunny!

[B] Watch out! (Watch out!)
And mind your mom and dad.
Benny said to give you all this warning.
And he’s (and he’s)
The bestest friend you’ve had.
You’ll find that out one certain Sunday morning.

REPEAT [A]

Subject: Lyr Add: BENNY, THE MAGIC BUNNY (Kenny Roberts)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 21 - 11:51 PM

BENNY, THE MAGIC BUNNY
Words and music by Al Hoffman & Dick Manning.
As recorded by Kenny Roberts with the Owen Bradley Quintet on Coral (60660), 1952, which you can hear at the Internet Archive.

[A] Benny, the magic bunny
Has a little magic hat,
Says: “Rabba-zabba-zoo!”
And there’s a kangaroo,
Presto! Just like that.

Benny, the magic bunny
Makes a bunny’s ears stand up.
He puts a pussycat
Into the magic hat.
Presto! There’s a pup.

[B1] Rabbits run to see his tricks.
They come from far and near.
He can make himself tall.
He can make himself small,
Or even disappear.

[C] Benny, the magic bunny,
With his little magic hat,
Can take the darkest day
And make it bright and gay,
Presto! Just like that.

REPEAT [A]

[B2] Benny never has to search
For food when he wants lunch.
He can reach in his hat,
And bingo! Like that,
There’s carrots by the bunch.

REPEAT [C]

Subject: Lyr Add: BUNNY ROUND-UP TIME (Gene Autry)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Feb 21 - 10:15 AM

BUNNY ROUND-UP TIME
Words and music by Leo Israel and Stephen Gale [ASCAP credits Hermann Krasnow]
As recorded by Gene Autry on Columbia (39217), 1951, which you can hear at the Internet Archive.

[A] Over the prairie, Texas bluebells chime.
Get along, little cowboy; it’s bunny round-up time.
Go ridin’ to dreamland where cottontails do roam.
Get along, little cowboy; you’ll bring a bunny back home.

[B] There’s a little toy bunny a-hoppin’ right by.
There’s a sweet choc’late bunny with a jellybean eye,
But you got up your pony and on he goes
Till you rope a white bunny with the peppermint toes.

Yippee-I, yippee-A, yippee-I.

Then over the prairie while Texas bluebells chime,
Ride home, little cowboy, from bunny round-up time.

REPEAT [B]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Rabbits
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Feb 21 - 07:03 PM

Lyrics for THE BUNNY HOP were posted in this thread by Azizi on 15 Feb 07 - 11:47 AM.
Here are writing credits and a partial discography:

Words by Leonard Auletti, music by Ray Anthony, ©1952.

The first recording was by Ray Anthony & His Orchestra, with vocal duet by Tommy Mercer & Marcie Miller on Capitol (2251), 1952.

[The links in this message lead to recordings at the Internet Archive.]

In 1953, Ray Anthony & His Orchestra released an instrumental version on Capitol (2427).

In 1954, Lee Roy & His Band released an instrumental version: Epic (9014);
Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra released an instrumental version called BUNNY HOP MAMBO on Capitol (2875);
Hugo Peretti released a vocal version on Mercury (MC 47A);
and Frank Messina and The Mavericks released an instrumental version on Mac Gregor (699-B).