The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #79761   Message #1447937
Posted By: GUEST,wealhtheow
31-Mar-05 - 10:53 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Lullaby--Mumma see the tiny ducks
Subject: Origins: Lullaby--Mumma see the tiny ducks
I'm looking for the origins for this family lullaby--came down from my great-grandmother from Ireland, but I've never heard of anyone else using this. Tune is same as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Here are the lyrics I know:

Mumma see the tiny ducks
On the shore the old hen clucks
Mumma tell me what's the matter
Why she's making such a clatter
She is running to and fro
While the ducklings paddling go
Mumma she can't understand
Why they're swimming from the land
She's afraid the water'll hurt them
Into chicks she can't convert them.

Anyone ever heard of this before, or did my great-grandmother just make it up?