My mother was a Girl Scout and Brownie Leader, Waterfront Director at camp in Wisconsin starting in the late 1920's and she always sang "Baby Owlet" to us as a lullaby. It was my favorite and my brother and I made her sing it to us every night for years when we were small. The lyrics were very similar to those posted above, but with a few minor variations. Later when I took French in high school, I was convinced that this must have been originally a French lullaby, because 'purple' in English sounds a lot like 'poor' in French and 'poor' makes more sense. Also, the chorus 'Tetra Quoi Quoi Quoi' sounds a lot like the French words for 'Maybe.. why, why why?' Perhaps this lullaby was popular in both France and Spain at one time, which would account for the variations in wording. Here are the lyrics my mother sang:

Baby Owlet, Purple Owlet,
Singing til dawn Shines Away

Baby Owlet, Purple Owlet,
Singing til dawn Shines Away

Won't you lend me your swift pinions?
Won't you lend me your swift pinions?
Won't you lend me your swift pinions?

That I may fly to my love.
That I may Fly to my love.

Tetra quoi quoi quoi
Tetra quoi quoi quoi
Tetra quoi quoi quoi
Poor wee owlet
Poor little owlet
Is tired from crying so.

If I were a baby owlet
I would never steal away.

If I were a baby owlet
I would never steal away.

Til my wings were strong and steady
Til my wings were strong and steady
Til my wings were strong and steady

Safe within my nest I'd stay
Safe within my next I'd stay.

Tetra quoi quoi quoi
Tetra quoi quoi quoi
Tetra quoi quoi quoi
Poor wee owlet, poor little owlet...
is tired from crying so.