Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'

Subject: I had a dream the other night
From: Ann Paulsen
Date: 29 Nov 97 - 12:20 AM

Our family has passed down a folk song for at least four generations. The first verse:

I had a dream the other night,
What fun it was for me.
I dreamed that I was Grandpapa,
And Grandpapa was me.

Subsequent verses mention gators, snuff, blowing the candle out at night . . .we've never seen or heard it outside the family.

Does anyone know about this?

Thanks.

Subject: RE: I had a dream the other night
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 30 Nov 97 - 08:14 PM

Sounds like a version of 'I am me own Grandpa'--in the database.

Subject: RE: I had a dream the other night
From: Ann Paulsen
Date: 30 Nov 97 - 09:59 PM

Thanks, but having looked at the thread about "I am me own Grandpa", I don't think so. That song deals with how marriages can result in a convoluted family line. Our song is about a little boy who, in his dream, finds he's the grownup and his Grandpapa is small. The last line: "I blew the candle out and tucked poor Grandpapa in bed." Does that provide any more clues?

Subject: RE: I had a dream the other night
From: GUEST,Rodney Fine
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 09:22 AM

There is a song that goes around Cornwall, England.

I had a dream the other night, the funniest dream of all. I dream't that I was kissing you behind the garden wall.

Etc Etc - It goes by the name of "Little eyes"

Subject: RE: I had a dream the other night
From: Charlie!!! (inactive)
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 09:41 AM

Have heard of this. Will ask friend/relatives. Definately not little eyes which incidently is sung all over the west country, i'm originally from cornwall and know slightly diferent lyrics, but I'm not picky really.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE BOY'S DREAM
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 08:43 PM

From The Child's Speaker by Charles Northend (New York: A. S. Barnes and Company, 1872), page 72:


THE LITTLE BOY'S DREAM.
(Charles Northend)

Last night, when I was in bed,
Such fun it seemed to me;
I dreamed that I was grandpapa,
And grandpapa was me.

I thought I wore a powdered wig,
Drab shorts, and gaiters buff,
And took, without a single sneeze,
A double pinch of snuff.

But he was such a tiny boy,
And dressed in baby-clothes;
And I thought I smacked his face, because
He wouldn't blow his nose.

And I went walking up the street,
And he ran by my side;
But because I walked too quick for him,
My goodness, how he cried!

And after tea I washed his face,
And when his prayers were said,
I blew the candle out, and left
Poor grandpapa in bed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 10:18 AM

That's an interesting poem, designed to make people develop a little empathy for children.

How many times have I seen a tall adult striding along, oblivious to the struggle of a little kid to keep up?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST
Date: 11 May 13 - 09:27 PM

the version my grandpa sang to me was:

Last night as I was snug in bed,
What fun it was for me
I dreamt that I was grandpapa
And grandpapa was me
And grandpapa was me
And grandpapa was me
I dreamt that I was grandpapa
And grandpapa was me

As I went walking down the street
With grandpa by my side
Because I walked too fast for him,
The little fellow cried
The little fellow cried
The little fellow cried
Because I walked too fast for him,
The little fellow cried

And after tea I washed his face
And then when prayers were said
I blew the candle out and left
Poor grandpapa in bed
Poor grandpapa in bed
Poor grandpapa in bed
I blew the candle out and left
Poor grandpapa in bed



My grandpa was a Wesleyan pastor, so he conveniently left out the stuff about a "double pinch of snuff" ;)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: Richard from Liverpool
Date: 12 May 13 - 07:58 AM

Really interesting stuff... What's the tune your grandpa sang it to, guest?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,Bee J
Date: 29 Mar 15 - 05:03 PM

My mother sang this song to me when I was about 5 years old. I'm now 89. I have wondered lately where she learned it as I have never heard it anywhere else. It seems an odd, rather sad song to sing to a small child. But it really stuck in my mind and I still remember all the words just as she sung them to me. They vary slightly from any of the versions anyone else has sent. My version starts...

Last night as I lay snug in bed
What fun it was for me
I dreamed that I was Grand-papa and Grand-papa was me
And Grand-papa was me
And grand-papa was me
I dreamed that I was grand-papa and grand-papa was me.

I thought I wore a powdered wig
With pants and gaiters buff
I took without a single sneeze a double pinch of snuff, etc.

As I walked down the street
And he ran by my side
Because I walked too fast for him the little fellow cried, etc

Then after tea
I washed his face
And when his prayers were said
I blew the candle out and left poor Grand-papa in bed, etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 30 Mar 15 - 10:49 AM

Poets' Corner . - Google News

It appears there entitled Grandpapa and I.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,Brad Burrell- Ohio
Date: 19 Jul 15 - 02:39 AM

A version of this, without the reference to the wig and snuff has been sung to children in our family for generations. We have no idea how old it is. My dad sang it to me when I was a kid (I'm now 60 years old). I understood that he got it from his father who received it from previous generations. How far back it goes, I don't know. Our first grandchild was just born and I plan to pass this down to the next generation.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,guest. Charlotte from Washington State
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 03:10 PM

"Last night as I was snug in bed such fun it was for me..."

When I was in my twenties, I asked my mother if she knew a song I could sing to my children. She sang the one her father had taught her in or around 1910. It was the above song. I am now in my 70's and I still really enjoy this lyric.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 17 - 03:20 PM

My grandmother used to sing that to me. No idea where she learned it, as her parents were Ukrainian and didn't speak english. Does anyone know if there's a recording of it, or somewhere to find the tune?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,Ren J.
Date: 22 Apr 18 - 07:45 PM

This lullaby has been in my family for several generations. My grandmother (born around 1900) sang it to me and she said her father (surname Wheeler) had sung it to her. Our family is English and emigrated first to Canada and then into Michigan in the 1800’s.

Here is a link to an image of the tune and lyrics we have always sung:

Image of Grandpapa sheet music

The words in the image might be hard to read, so here they are:

Last night as I lay snug in bed
What fun it was for me
I dreamt that I was Grandpapa
And Grandpapa was me
And Grandpapa was me
And Grandpapa was me
I dreamt that I was Grandpapa
And Grandpapa was me

I dreamt I wore a tall silk hat
Drab coat and gaiters buff
I took without a single sneeze
A double pinch of snuff

Then after tea we took a walk
And he ran by my side
Because I walked too fast for him
The little fellow cried

And when ‘twas night I washed his face
And when his prayers were said
I blew the candle out and left
Poor Grandpapa in bed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 19 - 02:21 PM

I learned basically the same lyrics--powdered wig, tea, drab pants etc-- from my grandmother who was born in 1871. She learned them from her mother born in Heard county ga in 1850. I think my great grandmother got them fRom her mother whowas born in SC in the 1820's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,Lori
Date: 27 Jan 21 - 09:58 PM

One night when I was fast asleep,
what fun it was for me,
I drempt' that I was Grandpapa,
and Grandpapa was me.

I dreamed I wore a powdered wig,
transparent gray to bluff,
and I took without a single sneeze,
a double pinch of snuff,
a double pinch of snuff,
a double pinch of snuff,
And I took without a single sneeze,
a double pinch of snuff.

And as we were walking down the road,
he ran by my side.
And because I walked too fast for him,
the little fellow cried.
the little fellow cried,
the little fellow cried,
and because I walked too fast for him,
the little fellow cried.

Then after tea, I washed his face,
and when our prayers were said,
I blew the candle out and left,
poor Grandpapa in bed.
Grandpapa in bed,
Grandpapa in bed,
blew the candle out and left,
poor Grandpapa in bed.

Love this song! Can remember my mom rocking me and singing this song to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: GUEST,Mary m bowen
Date: 09 Jun 21 - 03:49 AM

My great grandmother was born in 1851 in Heard County Georgia. I learned it from her.

Last night as I lay snug in bed
What fun it was for me
I dreamed that I was grand papa
And grand papa was me!

I dreamed I wore a powdered wig
Drab pants and gaiters buff
And took without a single sneeze
A double pinch of snuff.

And I went walking down the street
And he ran by my side
And cause I walked too fast for him
The little fellow cried.

And after tea I washed his face
And when his prayers were said
I blew the candle out and left
Poor grandpapa in bed.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'I dreamed that I was grandpapa, and...'
From: Monique
Date: 10 Jun 21 - 03:07 PM

You can hear a version sung here (University of Arkansas digital collections).