Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 29 Jan 14 - 02:45 PM

I have this album, with the illustrated pages and lyrics, as I recall it also carried these words:

Robin oh Robin oh Robin red breast
She came to my window one morning in spring

I remember how I cried over that one.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Jan 14 - 09:56 AM

Hi, Bob Bolton. Thanks for your thoughts.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 19 Jan 14 - 11:28 PM

G'day Leeneia,

The "brave" boy with the gun is ... one hopes ... becoming only a memory of the past ... and later versions, such as Jim Dixon's post up at: 18 May 12 - 20:31 PM with:

Lyr Add: THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE ROBIN (Webb 1893) do show that SOME of the older collections were somewhat kinder!

This song appears with musical notation in The New First Music Reader: Preparatory to Sight-Singing by Luther Whiting Mason (Boston: Ginn & Company, 1893), page 102:

THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE ROBIN
Geo. J. Webb.

Regards,

Bob Bolton (who has to admit that little birds were not as asfe as we would now hope ... back " ... mumbledy mumbledy years " ago ... when I ewas young and shanghais, air rifles and even .22" rifles were common ... if not safe ( ... for any one - or thing ...)!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Nov 13 - 11:52 AM

Here are some things I've seen in the newspaper in the last year:

6 year old girl shot to death in Wichita in her front yard
4 year old boy shot (survived) at his mother's birthday party. KCKS
1 year old girl shot (survived) while on her father's lap in a car
12 year old girl shot to death outside her grandpa's townhouse

Do you really think today's young children need you singing casually about a little animal shot to death?

I think they need to hear "I love you, and I will do my best to keep you safe."

(A good friend of mine enjoyed a brief period when young black kids from next door gathered on her porch to drink lemonade and talk. The common topic of conversation was relatives either shot or shot to death. Then the kids moved away.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,Dr. D
Date: 29 Nov 13 - 04:24 PM

I also had this Burl Ives album. I find it interesting that I can't find this album or song anywhere. But, I loved this album. The Robin Song, The Turtle Song, The Owl and the Pussycat, are some I remember from the album, not bad memory considering it was 45 years ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,M Bodvarson
Date: 30 Nov 12 - 11:20 AM

Does anyone, anyone? know where i can get the music or listen to this song?

I would so love to hear how the song is play or sung.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 12 - 10:22 AM

He came to my window one morning in spring
A sweet little robin came there to sing
The song that he sang was sweeter by far
Than ever was heard on a flute or guitar

Then after he finished his beautiful song
A Daring young man with z gun came along
He shot and he carried my Robin away
And that was the end of the break of the day

My uncle used to sing this to me when I was about 3

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE ROBIN (Webb 1893)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 12 - 02:31 PM

This song appears with musical notation in The New First Music Reader: Preparatory to Sight-Singing by Luther Whiting Mason (Boston: Ginn & Company, 1893), page 102:

THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE ROBIN
Geo. J. Webb.

1. There came to my window,
One morning in Spring,
A sweet little robin;
She came there to sing.
The tune that she sung
It was prettier far,
Than ever I heard
On a flute or guitar.

2. She raised her light wings,
To soar off far away;
Then resting a moment,
Seem'd sweetly to say:
O happy, how happy
This world seems to be;
Awake, little girl,
And be happy with me.

3. The sweet bird then mounted
Upon her light wing;
And flew to a treetop,
And there did she sing:
I listen'd delighted,
And hop'd she would stay;
And sme to my window,
At dawn of the day.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ROBIN (1862)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 12 - 02:12 PM

From The First Reading Book by Mark Wilson (London: Sampson Low, Son, and Co., 1862), pages 97-98:

LESSON VI,
THE ROBIN.

Did you ever hear the robins sing in the morning, when you were in bed? The robin sings very early, almost as soon as it is light.

When the robin sings so early in the morning, it is very happy; and it seems to say, "Up, up, and be happy with me." I will tell you what a little girl told me about a robin that came to her window, and sung very early one morning.

There came to my window,
    One morning in spring,
A sweet little robin;
    He came there to sing;
And the tune that he sung
    Was prettier far
Than ever I heard
    On a flute or guitar.

He raised his light wings
    To soar far away,
Then resting a moment,
    Seemed sweetly to say,
"O happy, how happy,
    This world seems to be!
Up, up, little girl,
    And be happy with me."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 12 - 11:36 AM

Have you tried eBay? I sell there all of the time and have shipped to Australia frequently.

Also, check out Alibris, which is an amalgam of online sellers. Burl Ives gets a lot of hits. I bet some of these sellers ship to Australia.

SRS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 12 - 11:19 AM

Hi, yes, I do know the record well. We grew up with it too. The reason it doesn't come up with all of Burl Ives regular songs was that it was a Disney record, so they owned all the rights to the record, or at least I think this is why it doesn't come up in searches for Burl Ives songs. The record is called Burl Ives, and songs for animal folk, or something like that.. if you message me on [e-mail] I can send you a pic of the record cover. Amazon had one on for sale, but they won't export out from the States, and I'm in Australia. :(

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,Aleta
Date: 08 Jan 12 - 02:01 PM

I had this album growing up and I loved it. I have been looking for it again, but couldn't come up with the name. This site really helps. It is definitely the same album. I used to look at the pictures and sing along with the printed words. Sure wish they'd make it again. Would be great for children today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Little Robin (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,jackie
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 03:48 AM

Horse Named Bill is also on this Animal Folk record. It is AWESOME!
"I had a horse and his name was Bill and when he ran he couldn't stand still, ran away one day, and also I ran with him..."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST,Allen
Date: 19 May 05 - 03:08 AM

Mister Rabbit is a freaky song.
Let's not forget the one about the water snake eating everyone on the lily-pad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 05 - 04:05 PM

ST3920        Burl Ives' Animal Folk
        1963        Disneyland Records        Format: LP, gatefold cover, 12 page book

Of course it's currently out of print. Try finding it on ebay. Great album. I will always remember it from my childhood. It had a lot of oddball songs on it.
"The mule would say eee-aah, with a mouth full of rubber boot."
"Mister rabbit, mister rabbit. Your ears are mighty large."
"The black and white pidgeon with the eight red toes goes round and round and round" [previously mentioned].
"Oh what can you do in a case like that? What can you do but sit on your hat, or your suitcase, or your grandmother, or anything else that's helpless?"
Really weird stuff!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST,Allen
Date: 11 May 05 - 09:21 AM

I'm sure I did hear this sung by Burl Ives, on a collection childrens songs of his.
Couldn't tell you the album, grandad recorded it onto cassette.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST,The Hollow Trees
Date: 10 May 05 - 01:40 PM

The Burl Ives album this song is on is called "Animal Folk" on Disney records. It's a great album with a cool book of illustrations and lyrics inside the gatefold.
I found it on ebay and have seen it there again. It's definately worth seeking out - a great record.
My children's music band does 5 songs from it:
Black and White Pigeon
The Whale Song
The Crocodile Song
Where's Joe
The Owl and the Pussycat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST,square
Date: 18 Feb 05 - 01:31 PM

The folk band 'Down River' released a new version of that song on their 'Creak Bed' album in 2003. You can find it in the iTunes music library if you want...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 07:35 AM

We had an Burl Ives lp as kids that was all about animals. This song was on it as well as other ones like, the black and white pidgeon, and johnny the mule . I will look for the record when I'm home for Christmas. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 04 - 12:38 AM

(Sing)
My dad leaned this when he was a little boy and he use to sing it to me when I was little. I inturn sang it to my children when they were little and now my children sing it to there children it went like this.

There came to my window one morning in spring
A sweet little bird and he came there to sing
The song that he sang was prettier by far
Then ever was heard on a flute or guitar

And just as he finished his beautiful song
A thoughtless young man with a gun came along
He killed and he carried my birdie away
And he no more will sing at the dawn of the day

(Spoken)
I'd rather be a dog or a cat
Or the meanest kind of rat
Than to be a man with a gun
And shoot a birdie just for fun.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From:
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:40 AM

Sweet Little Robin, please let me know as you know. Would love to get the midi or anything on this. It's the very first song my friend learned in school and I'd like to surprise him with it.
Thank you!
Best Regards,
    Alice Allen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 04 - 12:10 AM

Do you have the midi for this song...
Thank you so much.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST,Davy
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 03:28 AM

If Burl could sing 'The black and white pigeon with the eight red toes' why not a robin song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 12:29 AM

I wonder what other songs were in that "New First Music Reader" of 1889, Ginn and Co.
Copies for 1883, 1900-1906 are listed by Abebooks, as well as a set of 1st-5th c. 1906. Possibly interesting material for someone strongly interested in children's songs.

Jim Dixon, "Songs as Remembered" is a great find! Several of the songs have sad endings- cats lost, birds killed, etc.
Absolutely not acceptable in the politically correct, stress-free kiddies' song books today.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET LITTLE ROBIN (?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 10:46 PM

I found the following text without a title at http://www.outer-chaos.net/songs.htm. It is number 68 in a collection of 106 songs called "Songs as Remembered and Sung by Agnes Amelia Ransom Burton (1886 - 1969)" edited by her son Lynn Ransom Burton. This song bears the notation "learned from her mother, Agnes Elizabeth Austin Ransom, before 1900."

SWEET LITTLE ROBIN

There came to my window one morning in spring
A sweet little robin came there for to sing.

The tune that she sang was prettier by far
Than ever I'd heard on a flute or guitar.

She raised her light wings to fly far away
Then resting a moment, seemed sweetly to say:

"Happy, how happy, this world seems to be
Up, up, little girl, and be happy with me."

CHORUS: Tra la la la la la, Tra la la la la,
Tra la la la la, Tra la la la la.

As soon as she finished her beautiful song
A thoughtless young man with his gun came along.

He killed and he carried my birdie away
She will never more sing at the dawn of the day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 10:01 PM

I didn't write it.

Robin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST,BI-FAN
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 07:55 PM

http://www.kididdles.com/shop2/itm01480.htm

lots of BI listed here...but not that one...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 01:50 PM

I have an old paperback Burl Ives songbook that lists the contents of 20 different LP records Burl made, but nowhere do I see anything that might be the "Robin" song requested. When I read the lyrics it doesn't 'sound' like a song he would have done....but *shrug*....there were odd recording done, I suppose, and he was prety eclectic.

(he recorded one called "Kentucky Turkey Buzzard" ...but that don't sound like a 'sweet little birdie')

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 04:20 AM

Try this trad version-

As I woke one morning
When all sweet things are born
A robin perched upon my sill
to signal the coming morn

He was so sweet and gentle
as softly he did sing
sweet thoughts of love and happiness
Into my heart did spring

He sang his song so sweetly
Then as he paused........    a lull
I gently closed the window
And crushed his fucking skull

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 12:11 AM

Webb, 1803-1887, an organist and conductor of Orange, NJ (born in England), wrote a number of pieces, including "Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus."
He may not have written this 'Robin' song, however; apparently no proof has been found.

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 11:45 PM

George J[ames] Webb was certainly a composer. The Library of Congress American Memory Collection has a couple of other songs by him: WHERE THE BEAUTIFUL RIVERS FLOW, and NATURE'S NOBLEMAN. He didn't write the lyrics to those songs, however.

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: GUEST,Burd in a rusted Cage
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 09:15 PM

Good job Q. You are a premier Mudcat song detective.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET LITTLE BIRDIE (from Vance Randolph)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 08:57 PM

The verses given are expurgated. The song first appeared in "The New First Music Reader," Boston, 1889. The following is a folk version

SWEET LITTLE BIRDIE
(from Vance Randolph)

There came to my window one morning in spring,
A sweet little birdie, it came there to sing,
The song that it sang was sweeter by far,
Then ever was played on a flute or guitar.

Tra la la la, Tra la la la la,
Tra la la la la la.

As soon as he had finished his sweet little song,
A cruel young man with a gun came along,
He killed and he carried my sweet bird away,
No more will he sing at the break of the day.

Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, vol. 4, p. 410, No. 880, sung by Mrs. Olga Trail, Arkansas, 1941, 'learned from her father, .... about 1915."
With sheet music.

In the Traditional Ballad Index cufresno, the author is listed as George J. Webb (?).

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 08:39 PM

2nd verse-

Her wings she was spreading
To soar far away,
Then resting a moment
Seemed sweetly to say,
Oh happy, how happy
The world seems to be,
Awake, dearest child.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET LITTLE ROBIN (Burl Ives)
From: GUEST,J.E.
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 08:02 PM

I'm looking for that also. As a boy, I had that album. I still know the lyrics:

SWEET LITTLE ROBIN
(Burl Ives)


She came to my window,one morning in Spring.
The sweet little robin, she came there to sing.
And the song that she sang was sweeter by far
than ever was heard by a flute or guitar.

Her wings she was spreading to soar far away,
then resting a moment to sweetly say,
"Oh happy oh happy the world seems to be,
awake little man and be happy with me."

But just as she finished her beautiful song,
a thoughtless young man with his gun came along.
He killed and he carried my robin away.
She'll sing never more on the break of the day.

CHORUS : Oh robin, oh robin oh robin red breast.
The sweet little robin, she came there to sing.
And the song that she sang was sweeter by far
than ever was heard on a flute or guitar.


If anyone knows the title of this album, please post it here. I want to share it with my children!!

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 11 Sep 03 - 12:07 AM

Time to look for another worm...

Robin

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: Lesley N.
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 09:42 PM

In the Burl Ives Song Book "Robin He Married" is listed on several Burl Ives Albums - but the lyrics in the song book do not match yours -
"Robin he married a wife from the west,
Mopity, mopity, mo, no

It's a taming of the shrew song.

I didn't see anything else that might fit... If you figure out a title I can check teh book again. Sorry that's not much help...

Subject: RE: Burl Ives Robin Song
From:
Date: 04 Jun 99 - 01:27 PM

I've an old Burl Ives songbook at home I can check.

Subject: Burl Ives Robin Song
From: mandolin82
Date: 03 Jun 99 - 11:47 PM

There was a song on a Burl Ives record we had as I was growing up. The lyrics were something like:

He came to my window one morning in spring,
the sweet little robin he came there to sing,
and the song that he sang was sweeter by far,
then ever was heard on a flute or guitar.

I have not been able to find references to it anywhere, or figure out which record had this song. Does anyone know the lyrics or of the recording?