Lyr Req: Baby Owlet

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST,Mary Canning
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 08:30 AM

Thanks for so much great information on this song. Tinker, I learned it at Edith Newell in the 60s, and for the life of me could not remember the first verse. Must admit, it still doesn't sound familiar. I guess flying to my lover was a low priority at that age. As the eldest of 6 though, I sang it all the time to my baby sisters as a lullaby.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 06:33 PM

Can anyone at all direct me to a site or book that has the music (ideally chords) for this song? My mother sang this song to me when I was a child, and now I want to sing it (with accompaniment) to my kids. Thank you for the help!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST,cohyde
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 03:26 AM

My mother probably learned it as a Girl Scout in MO. She was a GS from the time she was 7 in 1930 until her death in 1988. She sang it to me and I to my children. Always a favorite. Our version:

Baby Owlet,
Poor wee Owlet,
Crying as dawn shines above.

Baby owlet,
Poor wee owlet,
Crying as dawn shines above.

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.

Tequera qua, qua, qua
Tequera qua, qua, qua
Tequera qua, qua, qua
Poor wee owlet
Poor little owlet
It is tired
from crying so.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST,Wacky Orb
Date: 19 May 11 - 12:53 AM

It's a treasured family favorite by way of Mom's camp days.
I really wish I could find the chords for guitar.
It would be the icing on the cake at the next family campfire.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 05:01 PM

I remember this song! Can anyone help me find the words to the old lullaby we sang in Girl Scouts: Braves, they are riding, they are riding, in the sky, Braves, see them riding as their pawnee ponies fly.."" and on. Thank you!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 08:58 PM

Guest, please post as a new thread. Your request will reach many more readers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet/Braves
From: GUEST,Sqrlwmn
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 12:45 AM

I was surprised no one had posted the "Braves" lyrics. I never saw the words, only sang at campfires. Lyrics learned that way tend to morph a little, so I don't know how my version matches the way it was written. It was one of our favorites in the 1960's and I sang it many a time to my children.

Braves, they are riding, they are riding in the sky
Braves, they are riding, as their Pawnee ponies fly.

Steeds, they are silver, they are silver as the moon
And with the dawning, in the distance, vanish soon

Swift o'er the heavens, o'er the heavens, never slow
Then in the morning, o'er the mountains they must go

Come little warrior, squaw is calling, chief is nigh
And while you're dreaming, braves will watch you from the sky

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 10:43 PM

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.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST,Penelope
Date: 03 Aug 13 - 04:11 PM

So excited to see all of these posts! Can anyone link to a recorded version? My mother sang this to me as a lullaby. I think she learned it while working as a camp counselor at Birch Trail in Wisconsin in the early seventies.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 14 - 09:57 AM

There's a mp3 here: http://friendsofeic.org/book/4camp/camp_24.htm
I don't agree with them on the words, but the tune is right except a few notes.
If it helps anyone track it, my mom sang it to me as a lullaby in the 50s. I never heard it in Girl Scouts. But my mom was a Girl Scout in Minnesota in the 30s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 19 - 09:15 PM

Another verse
Hush a bye my little outlet
Through the tints of pale moonshine
With His Great eye watching ore you
Rest and sleep till morning light. Toowoo two woo too woo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Baby Owlet
From: GUEST,G
Date: 13 Jul 19 - 05:25 PM

In the story of how Corra Linn on the River Clyde got it"s name we find that Corra, the youngest and at the time unmarried daughter of Malcolm king of Scotland, then an aged man, around the year 1005AD would be soothed to sleep by her harping and singing his favourite lullaby yeclept "The Howlet" [Owl]
This Malcolm was of course the grandfather of Duncan and MacBeth who were cousins.

Not any connection to the matter in hand but may be of some historical interest.