Subject: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: marsh@lglobal.com Date: 17 Feb 97 - 07:41 PM Surely, this one belongs in the Digital Tradition archives. But, I can't find it... In a cabin, in the woods/little man by the window stood /saw a rabbit hopping by/fast as he could be /help me help me the rabbit said/for the hunter will shoot me dead /come little rabbit don't you see/how happy we could be ... Where's it from? Complete lyrics? Alternate lyrics? |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Susan-Marie Date: 18 Feb 97 - 08:28 AM I remember the last line as "safe inside you'll be". It's a camp song, accompanied with hand motions for little kids. A more cynical audience might wonder if the little man had rabbit stew for dinner that night. |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Anne Cormack Date: 18 Feb 97 - 10:01 AM Marsh, This was a favourite at Girls' Brigade Camp in Scotland in the dim and distant days of my youth!! We used to sing it with the appropriate actions. My version is very similar to yours: Little cottage in a wood, Little man at the window stood, Saw a rabbit running by, Knocking at the door, Help me! Help me! Help me! he said, Or the hunters will shoot me dead, Come little rabbit, come with me, Happy we shall be! We only had the one verse. Anne |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Susan of DT Date: 18 Feb 97 - 07:12 PM See "In the woods there stands a house" I entered the words, slightly different from above, and the hand motions that were the excuse for the whole thing. |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Bill Foster Date: 14 Mar 97 - 08:42 AM In East Tennessee we learned the last few words as: "Little rabbit, come inside; safely you'll abide." |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: noahd6451@aol.com (Noah Bullock) Date: 14 Mar 97 - 09:03 AM This one was a favorite at our YMCA camps on lake winnepasaukee in NH (Camp Lawrence and Camp Nokomis) they can be found at http://www.bica.org Now after that little plug, here goes: In a cabin in the woods (make house with hands over head) L'il old man by the window stood (old man with hand above eyes looking out) saw a rabbit hopping by, helpless as could be (two fingers up like rabit; make hand hop) help me, help me help, he said (arms waving frantically (said in high voice)) For the hunter shoots me dead. (tommy gun motion (low voice)) come little rabbit come with me ( beckoning motion) happy we will always be (cradling motion, or stomach rubbing motion) The song is usually repeated: the second time the first verse is hummed, the third time the first and second verses are hummed, and so on, untill the end |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Frank Date: 23 Mar 97 - 03:31 PM Little cabin in the woods Little man by the window stood Saw a rabbit hopping by As frightened as can be "Help me, help me, help!" he said "'Fore the hunter shoots me dead!" "Hush little rabbit, come with me, how happy we will be!" |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Saunis Date: 23 Mar 97 - 10:39 PM I learned it in Girl Scouts too. In a cottage in the woods, little man at the window stood. Saw a rabbit running by, knocking at my door. "Help me, help me, help me" he cried. Lest the hunter shoot you dead, little rabbit come inside where safely you'll abide. Same gestures as others have listed. |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: GUEST,sh Date: 07 Nov 07 - 07:11 PM I learned it in choir. It's
Saw a rabbit hopping by, knocking at his door. "help me, help me, help" he said. 'fore the hunter shoots me dead, little rabbit come inside safetly to abide. |
Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Joe Offer Date: 08 Nov 07 - 01:28 AM I learned this in Wisconsin, a state that is prepositionally challenged. Hence, "in a cabin by the woods."
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Subject: RE: lyrics?: in a cabin in the woods From: Ian Date: 08 Nov 07 - 07:23 AM This is a favorite at the Towersey festival sing around at the Three horseshoes by Pearl. Fist it is sung all through with actions, then again missing of the previous last verse (actions performed only) until a complete silent rendition is completed.Finishing with a full vocal and action round. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,John Date: 13 Nov 07 - 04:15 PM From boy scouts i learned it like this in a cabin in the woods lil' old man by the window stood saw a rabbit hopping by knocking at his door help me help me help me he said before the hunter shoots me dead come little rabbit play with me oh so happy we will be! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: Celtaddict Date: 13 Nov 07 - 08:43 PM I learned it from my (Scot, living in Kansas City MO) grandmother; we sang Little cottage in the wood [outline cottage with fingers] Little man by the window stood [shade eyes with hand and look around] 'Long came a rabbit hopping by ['bunny ears' hand bouncing by] Knocking at the door [fist knocking] "Help me! Help me! Help me!" he said [hands together, pleading] "'Fore the hunter shoots me dead!" [make gun of two hands] "Come on in," the little man said ['come here' gesture] "Warm up by the fire." [rub hands together as if warming] First verse straight through; next time, first line silent, just movement, rest sung; second time, first two lines silent, until by the eighth time through, the whole thing is silent, just hand movements. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: julian morbihan Date: 14 Nov 07 - 10:14 AM I learnt it as "little red hen at the window stood" Thinking about it, it's silly that a hen would live a cottage in a wood. There again, as it's a talking rabbit, what's the issue? Though the idea of different species co-habiting does seem a bit weird. Now I'm worried where this process is taking me... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 09 Dec 07 - 01:11 PM Little cottage, in a wwod Little man, by a window stood Saw a rabbit running by Knocking, knocking at the door Help me, help me, help me he cried See the hunters on their way! Little rabbit, come inside You'll be safe, with me... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: Bee Date: 09 Dec 07 - 03:56 PM I learned it at the daycare I worked in as: In a cabin in the woods A little boy at the window stood Saw a rabbit hopping by Knocking at the door 'Help me! Help me!" the rabbit said "Or the hunter will shoot me dead." "Come little rabbit come with me Happy we will be." With hand motions, of course. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,ryan Date: 26 Jun 08 - 08:04 PM little cabin in the wood, little old man by the window stood, saw a rabbit hopping by, knocking at his door, help me, help me, help he said, before the hunter shoots me dead, come little rabbit come inside, afely to abide. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 16 Sep 08 - 10:43 PM At my camp (50 years ago; In a cabin in the woods as i by the window stood saw a rabbit in distress running to and fro "help me, help me sir" he cried 'From the hunter I must hide Won't you let me come inside And keep me safe and warm?" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 19 Dec 08 - 10:54 PM Little cabin in the woods little man by the window stood saw a rabbbit hopping by knocking at the door. Help me! Help me, sir! he said or the hunter will shoot me dead! Come little rabbit, come inside, safely to abide. I have no idea where I learned this, but my boyfriend never heard this song and thought I had lost my mind when I started singing it. Now he can't stop saying "Help me! Help me, sir!" :) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,zigzag Date: 09 Jan 09 - 08:46 PM Wow, haven't hear this one in lots of years. Funny thing, this song came to me while sleeping last night and the only thing I could remember from it when I awoke was the "little rabbit come inside; safely you'll abide". I had to google that snippet to figure out where that came from. Don't know where I learned it, but do now remember doing the gestures with it. Probably coming back to me now that we have a 14 month old grandson who we have been singing and signing with lately. Won't be singing this one with him just yet though....don't like the shooting part. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: open mike Date: 10 Jan 09 - 12:45 AM if the shooting part repels you, this will surely do the same.. little rabbit foo foo hopping thru the forest picking up the field mice bopping them on the head.. ( a cautionary tale, a story with a moral....) http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/l007.html |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Island Girl Date: 31 Jan 09 - 08:54 PM I learned it in the British Caribbean as a little girl (25+ years ago) as: Little cabin in the wood, Little man by the window stood, Saw a rabbit hopping by, Knocking at the door. "Help me, help me, sir," he said "Before the farmer bops my head." "Come on in," the little man said, "Warm up by the fire." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,some1 Date: 22 Feb 09 - 09:24 PM i learned this one when i was lil from my cuzin less then 10yrs ago my version was
a little man by da window stood saw a rabbit hopping by knocking at the door HELP ME HELP ME the rabbit cried I just need a place to hide Come little rabit come inside I'll take care of you |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Iris, Russia Date: 06 Mar 09 - 07:29 PM It's very funny, but I used to sing such song in my childhood (25+). Of course in russian :) I can translate it into english as follows:
is looking though the window. Hare's running in the field, Knocking at his door: "Knock, knock, open the door - there's angry hunter in the wood!" Little hare come with me, give you paw to me. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: Joe Offer Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:12 PM That's fascinating, Iris. Are there any other songs you know in Russian, that have English-language counterparts? -Joe- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 26 Mar 09 - 06:44 PM Little old cottage in the woods Little old man by the window stood Saw a rabbit hopping by Knocking at his door Help me, help me, help me he said Fore the hunter shoots me down Little old rabbit come inside Safely you'll abide. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 26 Mar 09 - 06:47 PM Sorry, correction. My daughter informed me of my mistake. Little old cottage in the woods Little old man by the window stood Saw a rabbit hopping by Knocking at his door Help me, help me, help me he cried 'fore the hunter shoots me down Little old rabbit come inside Safely you'll abide. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Another Guest, looking for a song Date: 02 Apr 09 - 03:02 PM There was a little house in the middle of the woods, And by the window an old man stood. He saw a bunny rabbit come hopping by Knocking at the door. "Help me! Help me!" he cried Please, little man let me inside. "Come little rabbit, come with me. Happy we will be." I learned the first two lines of the second stanza the way many of you did: "Help me! Help me! he said, "'Fore the hunter shoots me dead." or, "hunter man", I don't remember exactly which. Somewhere about the time my parents' first grandchild came along, we changed the words to a less violentversion. Our modern society is not as comfortable with the violence in children's songs, etc., as were our ancestors, eh? Think Goldilocks--how did it end? The bears used to eat up the naughty girl, but now she jumps out the window and runs away. Never mind the moral in the old tale that naughty children who wander into strangers' homes could get hurt. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Yet another guest Date: 03 Jul 09 - 01:47 AM I learned the song in my first grade class. We would do the first verse with the actions and then round it out with the following jazzed up version ((60's Beetnick style, I think)with the same actions): In a pad in the forest green An older man, he was surveyin' the scene Saw a hairman hoppin' by A rappin' at his door Like help, like help me Or the hunter will exterminate me Come little hairman Jump and shout C'mon and we'll hang out. :) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 11 Aug 09 - 12:58 AM Here is the version we sang as children in the 1950's: There was a little house in the middle of the woods A little old man by the window stood He saw a rabbit hopping by, knocking at his door "Help me! Help me! Help me", he said. "Or, that hunter will shoot me dead." Come little rabbit come with me, happy we will be. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,c.d Date: 01 Jan 10 - 05:37 AM I thought that it went, Little cabbin in the forrest green little herbie by the window screen saw a rabbit hopping by knocking at my door. "Help me help me" was his plea before the hunter exteminates me Little rabbit come inside safely to abide. Thats what I learnt from barney. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: Tug the Cox Date: 01 Jan 10 - 08:00 PM As naughty boys we changed the last line, 'Happy we will be' to ' I'll have you for my tea.' |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Nat and Ang Date: 22 Jan 10 - 07:57 PM From 1970's Manchester England: In a cottage by the wood, Little old man by the window stood Saw a rabbit running by Come knocking at his door "Help me, help me, sir" he said Or those men will shoot me dead. "Come little rabbit, come with me Happy we will be". '"Help me, help me, sir" he said' seems to fit the meter. Interestingly it was more than one hunter in this version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 25 May 10 - 08:04 AM Part 1: Little cabin in the woods, Little man by the window stood. Saw a rabbit hopping by Knocking at the door. "Help me! Help me!Help me!" he said "Before the hunter shoots me dead" "Little rabbit come in side, Safely to abide." Part 2: Little pad in the forest green Little man by the window screen Saw a hare beboppin by knockin at his door Like this like this was his plea Before the hunter exterminates me Little hare come inside To jazz we will always be. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,same person as the one above Date: 25 May 10 - 08:05 AM Part 1: Little cabin in the woods, Little man by the window stood. Saw a rabbit hopping by Knocking at his door. "Help me! Help me!Help me!" he said "Before the hunter shoots me dead" "Little rabbit come in side, Safely to abide." Part 2: Little pad in the forest green Little man by the window screen Saw a hare beboppin by knockin at his door Like this like this was his plea Before the hunter exterminates me Little hare come inside To jazz we will always be. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,same person as the two above Date: 25 May 10 - 08:08 AM Part 1: Little cabin in the woods, Little man by the window stood. Saw a rabbit hopping by Knocking at his door. "Help me! Help me!Help me!" he said "Before the hunter shoots me dead" "Little rabbit come in side, Safely to abide." Part 2: Little pad in the forest green ba da ba da Little man by the window screen ba da ba da Saw a hare beboppin by knockin at his door Like this like this was his plea Before the hunter exterminates me Little hare come inside To jazz we will always be. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Anonymous Date: 11 Aug 10 - 02:12 PM Little Pad in the forest green da da da da Little man by window screen da da da da Little hare came hoppin by and knockin on his door da da da da like this like this was his plea da da da da before the hunter exterminates me da da da da little hare wont you come with me and groovy we will always be da(x32) CHIQUITA BANANAS UNITE A PEEL PEEL PEEL PEEL PEEL BANANAS EAT EAT EAT EAT EAT BANANAS SWALLOW SWALLOW SWALLOW SWALLOW SWALLOW BANANAS GO GO GO GO GO BANANAS BARF BARF BARF BARF BARF BANANAS |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 07 Jun 11 - 09:42 PM This is the one I learned at camp In a cabin in the woods By the window an old man stood Saw a rabbit hopping by Knocking at his door Help me Help me the rabbit cried I just need a place to hide Don't you worry don't you cry I'll take care of you! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 08 Jun 11 - 09:40 AM French and German have a deer or doe living in the house, whom I find more likely to be on speaking terms with a rabbit resp. hare. Dans sa maison un grand cerf, Regardait par la fenêtre Un lapin venir à lui Et lui dire ainsi: - Cerf! cerf! ouvre-moi! Ou le chasseur me tuera! - Lapin, lapin, entre et viens, Me serrer la main. In dem Walde steht ein Haus, Schaut ein Reh zum Fenster raus. Kommt ein Häschen angerannt, Klopfet an die Wand. Hilfe, Hilfe, hilf mir doch, Sonst schießt mich der Jäger noch! Liebes Häschen, komm herein, Reich mir deine Hand. The tune for the German version from Ingeb.org (other languages have the obvious modifications in rhythm): X:1 T:In dem Walde L:1/8 M:2/4 K:G Q:85 DGGG| GFA2| DAAA| AGB2| DBBB| BAc2| FFEF| G4| dddd| dce2| cccc| cBd2| DBBB| BAc2| FFEF| G4|] Which language was first? Intuitively, I guess it was the one in French "baby-speak". |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 09 Jun 11 - 09:49 AM A Dutch version I found on the 'net: In het bos daar staat een huisjeIn the forest there stands a little house; I once looked through the window frame, a little hare came running, knocked at the door. ... - sounds a bit strange, doesn't it? How can it be a house when I seem to live in it, or at least have the key? As for the age and origin of the song, I did not find anything older than 1937 (German). Monique, Wilfried, or whoever - help mij uit de nood. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Judy Date: 17 Sep 11 - 11:58 PM I learned it 50+ years ago as the following: Little cabin in the woods little man by the window stood saw a rabbit come hopping by rapping at the door. Help me! Help me, sir! he said or the farmer will shoot me dead! Come little rabbit, come with me, happy we will always be. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Judy Date: 18 Sep 11 - 12:20 AM Actually, I think it went this way: I learned it 50+ years ago in Pittsburgh as the following: Little cabin in the woods little man by the window stood saw a rabbit come hopping by rapping at the door. Help me! Help me, sir! he said or the farmer will shoot me dead! "Come on in," the little man said. "Warm up by the fire." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: Monique Date: 18 Sep 11 - 04:22 AM I'm sorry Grishka, I hadn't seen this thread when you posted on it but I can't help. I've known it all my life (♪ I was born, ♫ born in the 50's), it's in some of my songbooks but none mentions a date or a place. I read discussions online about "venir à lui" (come to him) vs "venir à l'huis" (come to the door, but "huis" is really outdated!) and some other people did too (Cf the comments in our MLW page) Someone sent us a second verse for it... Quand ils furent en tête à tête Le cerf lui fit grande fête Et le chasseur tout marri Retourna chez lui "Cerf, cerf, grand merci, Le chasseur est loin d'ici! - Lapin, lapin, réjouis-toi Et reste chez moi." in which "marri" is also an outdated word (was in disuse in the 1900's). Now... the question is "Is the song old and were these two old words used normally or did someone make it sound older than it really was by using outdated word?" About whether it was French in the first place, I have no idea. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 20 Oct 11 - 02:53 PM Our family version is: There was a little house in the middle of the wood, Saw an old man by the window stood, Saw a little rabbit hopping by knocking at my door. "Help ME! Help Me!" he cried,"before the hunter shoots me dead." Come little rabbit come with me, Happy we will be. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 23 Oct 11 - 04:59 AM Thank you, Monique. The song is known to almost everyone who ever lived in France; I remember it well myself, though I was already at schoolboy age when I moved there. The words and the melody are such as may well have been improvised by a 19th century nanny to keep the kids busy. It must have happened in a big city, since any country dweller would know that deer (and hares) just run away when hunted, whereas rabbits live in self-built burrows. "Cerf" and "fenêtre" do not rhyme by any standard, which makes me believe that the French first verse may indeed be the earliest. The second verse and most of the translations sound as if designed by expert poets, at a time when the first verse was already popular. But we know that there were poets who liked to mimick "real folklore", so that I am by no means sure. However, there must be some evidence from earlier than 1937. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Leslie Date: 02 Dec 11 - 08:12 PM From the early- to mid-1980s, Southern California: Little pad in the forest green boom boom boom boom Little man at the window screen boom boom boom boom Little rabbit hoppin' by, rappin' at my door. "Like help, like help!" was his plea, "before the hunter assassinates me!" Little rabbit, come inside, safely to be fried or stewed or barbecued. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,learnt from my 4 year old Date: 05 Feb 12 - 12:21 PM In a cabin in a woods a little ole man by the window stood saw a rabbit hoppin by knocking on his door help me help me sir he cried i jus need a safe place to hide come little rabbit come inside you can stay with me.... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 21 Aug 15 - 05:45 AM 30+ years ago as a girl scout we learned the alternate version... Little pad in the forest green Boom, boom, boom, boom Little man by the window screen Boom, boom, boom, boom Saw a rabbit hoppin' by, knockin' at his door. Like, help! Like, help! Like, help! Was he plea, before the hunter exterminates me. Little rabbit come inside... to be stewed or fried or shake-n-baked! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,Big Bird's Favorite Party Games Date: 02 Nov 20 - 11:33 PM I learned this while watching Big Bird's Favorite Party Games. In the home video, Big Bird and the gang repeated the song many times, but everyone left the first couple of lines silent while still signing the motions, leaving out more lines as the song went on. By the end, the song was completely signed, with the melody being played instrumentally. "In a cabin in the woods a little man by the window stood saw a rabbit hopping by knocking at the door help me help me, the rabbit cried I just need a place to hide come little rabbit come inside i'll take care of you" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST Date: 05 Nov 20 - 10:11 AM |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: Tug the Cox Date: 05 Nov 20 - 10:13 AM We sometimes changed the end to 'Come little Rabbit, come inside...I'll have you for my tea. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: GUEST,joyfulisa Date: 07 Nov 21 - 02:00 PM Are there other songs such as this one (and its many iterations) that use the same noun- or line-replacement with gestures only? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods From: Monique Date: 07 Nov 21 - 03:24 PM We have In a Cabin in a Wood in 9 languages on Mama Lisa's World (Hungaria, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, German, English, Italian, French). |
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