Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit

05 May 04 - 12:12 PM (#1178589)
Subject: There once was a rabbit
From: barnacle

My mum used to sing - or maybe just recite - I cannot remember. She died many years ago. The words were

There once was a rabbit developed the habit of twitching the end of his nose
His sisters and brothers and various others all (noted) the way that it goes...
...
It ends ...
Now all the world over where rabbits eat clover ...

Does anyone recognise this and can they supply me with the comlete text?

Pleeeeeeeeease

---

05 May 04 - 12:19 PM (#1178598)
Subject: RE: There once was a rabbit
From: Amos

Rabbit Poem

There was once a rabbit
Developed the habit,
Of twitching the end of his nose.
His sisters and brothers
And various others
Said, "Notice the way that it goes".

Now one clever bunny
Said, "That's very funny,
I'll practise it down in the dell".
The rest said, "If he can,
I'm positive we can".
And did it remarkably well.

Now all the world over,
Where rabbits eat clover,
And burrow and scratch with their toes,
There isn't a rabbit,
Who hasn't the habit,
Of twitching the end of its nose.

(Authorship has unfortunately been lost from view).

---

Regards,
A

---

05 May 04 - 12:33 PM (#1178614)
Subject: RE: There once was a rabbit
From: Sooz

It never ceases to amaze me what we know between us all!

---

05 May 04 - 01:46 PM (#1178704)
Subject: RE: There once was a rabbit
From: barnacle

A

Wow, thanks - and so quick

I have been trying to find this for years. Have even contacted so called experts in children's literature.

Just shows - we do know lotsa stuff between us.

thank you again

S (barnacle)

---

05 May 04 - 02:31 PM (#1178729)
Subject: RE: There once was a rabbit
From: Liz the Squeak

It's all due to the Girl Guide and Scouting movements I'm sure! I remember having to learn this for one of my merit badges, as a Brownie. It's driven me mad for years only being able to remember part of it!

LTS

---

24 May 04 - 01:55 AM (#1192423)
Subject: RE: There once was a rabbit
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

I made the fatal mistake of teaching this little rabbit poem to someone in my office and she repeats it over and over. Anyway, it is sweet and should be perpetuated.   It was written by Georgia Roberts Durston who may have been American. The words I recall are almost 100% the same as the above.   I have taught it to every child I know.   Cheers everyone    Deirdre

---

24 May 04 - 02:58 AM (#1192437)
Subject: RE: There once was a rabbit
From: Wilfried Schaum

She was American. Ancestry thread:

"I am trying to find information about the above two people. They were my mothers parents. I have been led to believe that Bertram hailed from Charleston WV. I believe he died around 1947 and she died about 1955. They are both buried in San Antonio, Texas at the Sam Houston National Cemetary. His family apparently owned a large department store in West Virginia and sometime before WWI, he ran afoul of his family and joined the army. He remained in the army and retired/died as a Lt Col."

"Did you ever get any information on Georgia Roberts Durston. Is she the poet who wrote in the early 1900's?"

"Georgia Roberts Durston wrote a book called "Candlelight" for her daughter Georgia Roberts Durston Frankenberger. Mrs Durston also wrote a book called "Boy Scouts on the Trail" which was a Hardy Boys mystery-type book only about Boy Scouts."

More of her writings at Google

Cheers
Wilfried

---

23 Jun 04 - 12:28 AM (#1212655)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,shirpike

This poem was repeated to me by a neighbor when I was just a little girl. Through the years, I have recalled the opening line and part of the last lines beginning with "And now the world over..." My friend tonight located the remainder of it, and I am overjoyed!

---

17 Nov 04 - 05:40 AM (#1329674)
Subject: RE: letter
From: GUEST,steven

I have the literature homework, so I need georgia r durston background. please send me her background to my e-mail: [e-mail]    may i accept it tommorow/ I beg u! pleeeease!    thank you so much

---

18 Nov 04 - 02:33 AM (#1330807)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST

An old recording of Josh White had a track on it referring to rabbit habits.

Something like:

Jack the Rabbit
Had a bad habit
Ate up the corn
And all the cabbage
But I took him down
To the low low ground
And I cured that fool
Of his bad habit.

(The cut was titled "Don't Lie Buddy")

Or something like that.

Then there was the slogan for Bunny Bread

"Get the rabbit habit"

Yeah Sooz, I wonder at the amount of dubiously useful information. Mental Lint?

Coyote Breath

---

16 Dec 05 - 09:41 AM (#1628723)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Catherine H Hynes

Georgia Roberts Durston is my Great-Grandmother. She was a poet and novelist. This is intriguing in that I was unaware that her daughter Georgia and husband Bertram Frankenberger had any other children besides Georgia (my mother), Ann and Patricia. Everything else you have down is correct. I would really appreciate it if you would e-mail me about this.

Many Thanks

[e-mail]

---

06 Feb 06 - 04:34 PM (#1663071)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Mike Blamire ([e-mail])

My 90 year old father taught us this version as kids. He got it from a lady, Cathy Rogers (sp?) who worked in the county borough offices at Croydon, England between 1945 and 1957. He thought she might have been the author, but Georgia Roberts Durston may have preceded her. Note the differences in the wording. Actually, I think this version flows better.

There once was a rabbit, developed the habit
Of twitching the end of his nose.
His sisters and brothers and various others
Said "Look at the way that it goes!".

Now, one little bunny said "Isn't that funny.
I'll practice it down in the dell".
She practiced, and practiced, and practiced,
And did it remarkably well.

Now all the world over where bunnies eat clover,
And scribble and scratch with their toes,
There isn't a rabbit that hasn't the habit
Of twitching the end of its nose.

---

09 Feb 06 - 04:29 AM (#1665041)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Chloe

My Grandma used to tell this poem to me when I was a little girl. I've always kept pet rabbits.

My Grandma worked on a farm during the war and looked after about 70 rabbits!

My Mum and I were trying to remember the words to the poem last night and we're so pleased to find the whole poem. Its put a smile on my face, and given me a happy memory again.

---

10 Sep 06 - 11:22 PM (#1831601)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Rita Rhino

I live in Sydney, Australia, and used to recite this poem when I was 5-6 years old, in 1952-3

---

25 Feb 07 - 12:49 AM (#1978560)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Pamela

I learned this poem when I was a child in Bellingen, Australia. I have always remembered it, and the words as first quoted are as I remember.

---

18 Mar 07 - 04:05 PM (#2000465)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Louise Bratton

Thank God for all you people! I learnt this poem (with the words as quoted by Amos at the top of the thread) as a song with a very simple tune in primary school. I now sing it to my three year old but knew I had the last verse wrong. Really really pleased to be corrected!

---

16 May 07 - 11:44 AM (#2053596)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a h
From: GUEST,Martin Bond

The first time I saw this was jn a magazine called "Men Only" in about 1949. Sorry I don't know the author but it made such an impression that even though I'm now 80 I still remember it.

---

23 Jun 07 - 07:57 PM (#2085184)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,GUEST, Sharon

Thank you so much for the words to the poem. I am in my 40s now and my Dad used to recite this poem when I was little. The poems we learnt when we were kids are timeless classics and I am putting them together for my kids. Things like the Triantiwontigongolope by CJ Dennis, gets some funny looks when you say it but such great verse.

Thanks again
Sharon

---

23 Jun 07 - 09:11 PM (#2085232)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: Azizi

Thomas W. Talley, African American professor of chemistry at Fisk University and collector of African American folk rhymes, included an example of this rhyme in his now classic 1922 book "Negro Folk Rhymes-Wise and Otherwise".

See this excerpt about Talley from a recent edition of his classic book:

"Thomas W. Talley collected these tales during the 1920s from childhood memories of stories told during the post–Civil War era by friends and family in rural Middle Tennessee. A chemistry professor at Fisk University in Nashville, Talley was a twentieth-century pioneer in African-American folklore who used his keen insight and imagination to confront the complex and little-known wellsprings of his own cultural background. The result is a dynamic representation of an African-American tradition".

Thomas W. Talley; Negro Folk Rhymes

Here's the version of this particular rabbit song that Talley included in his book:

I'LL GET YOU RABBIT

Rabbit! Rabbit! You'se got a mighty habit,
A-runnin' through de grass,
Eatin' up my cabbages;
But I'll git you shore at las'.

Rabbit! Rabbit! Ole rabbit in de bottoms,
A-playin' in de san',
By to-morrow mornin',
You'll be in my fryin' pan.

{Talley, Negro Folk Rhymes, Kennikat Press edition, 1968, p. 116, originally published in 1922, The Macmillan Company}

---

25 Nov 07 - 03:03 AM (#2201692)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Helen Ensor - Blenhiem NZ

I learnt this from my mum and dad from a poster sitting on our kitchen wall from the age of 3.

There once was a rabbit who developed the habit of eating his vegetables raw.
His sisters and brothers and various others said I've not seen that done before!
Yes one clever bunny said "that's very funny, it makes such a crunchy sound".
Yes, I'm sure his food is doing him good cos his teeth are the whitest I've found.

Yes! His teeth are the whitest, his fur is the softest, he is frisky and has lots of fun, lets make it a habit to copy that rabbit, the others agreed, every one.

And so the world over where rabbits eat clover and burrow and scratch with each paw. There isn't a rabbit who hasn't the habit of eating his vegetables raw.

---

22 Jan 08 - 02:48 AM (#2241792)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a h
From: GUEST,Neil

I was doing a crossword puzzle this evening, and the word "dell" was an answer. This triggered the memory of the rabbit poem (as in the 2nd posting) which I recited much to the delight of my wife. I hadn't thought of it for possibly over forty years. I learned it in Newcastle NSW Australia in about 2nd or 3rd class from a teacher Mrs Renwick to whom I am thankful for much. I would have been six or seven at the time. I am now 57. Is this incipient senility creeping in?

---

01 Mar 08 - 05:23 PM (#2276848)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,john

poo

---

14 Jun 08 - 09:41 PM (#2366133)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST

Georgia Roberts Durston was my husband's great grandmother - so it seems he is related to some of the people posting here. He is Patricia's son - she passed away three weeks ago. Are Georgia and Babette the same person?

---

15 Jun 08 - 07:32 PM (#2366565)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie

This is the way had it from my mother (who was in the Guides pre-war):

There was once a rabbit
Developed the habit,
Of twitching the end of his nose.
His sisters and brothers
And various others
Said, "Look at the way that it goes".

Now one little bunny
Said, "That's very funny,
I'll practise it down in the dell".
They allrest said, "If he can,
Then certainly we can".
And did it remarkably well.

Now all the world over,
Where rabbits eat clover,
And scrabble and scratch with their toes,
There isn't a rabbit,
Who hasn't the habit,
Of twitching the end of its nose.

---

15 Jun 08 - 07:36 PM (#2366568)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie

Sorry - second verse should read:

Now one little bunny
Said, "That's very funny,
I'll practise it down in the dell".
They all said, "If he can,
Then certainly we can".
And did it remarkably well.

Keep forgetting I'm not in Word!

---

10 Jul 08 - 08:24 AM (#2385582)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST

I found this poem on a typed scrap of paper in an old politics text book. The Author on the sheet was M.A Nathan

---

18 Jul 08 - 09:47 AM (#2392055)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST

thank you my dad used to tell me this poem the rabbits and I had forgotton the middle section (i will practice it down in the dell). I am 35 and he passed on 4 years ago, was just thinking of it and him - australia central and mid north east coast.

---

26 Aug 08 - 06:14 AM (#2422282)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Mike

I sang this at a concert in the Isle of Man about 28 years ago, I am now 35 and have just started singing it to my two children who are 4 and 2 and they love it !

BTW the version I sang was the original one posted.

---

24 Sep 08 - 02:42 AM (#2448708)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a h
From: GUEST,Geoffrey Luck

This little poem goes back a long way. My mother, a school teacher in Queensland, certainly knew it in the 1920s, and taught it to me by 1934.

---

09 Feb 09 - 03:32 PM (#2562055)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Henry Taylor

I don't know if you're still monitoring this thread or not, but in case you are: You must be my cousin. My mother was Patricia. I'll check back here periodically. If you'd like to communicate, leave me an email address or something.

---

09 Feb 09 - 03:34 PM (#2562057)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Henry Taylor

Sorry, I thought this would post under the message I was responding to. My previous message was directed to Catherine Hynes.

---

04 Apr 09 - 06:10 PM (#2604756)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,GUEST, Julie Baudino

I can remember when I was 4 years old, standing in front of a very large congregation in Dumas, Texas on Easter Sunday and reciting this poem.

Over the years all I could remember was "There once was a rabbit, who had the bad habit".

This year, I will be 70, so this has been around for a long time.

---

05 Apr 09 - 07:18 PM (#2605281)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST, australia

hurrah! I've been looking for nearly 40 years for the correct wording to this poem; remembered the first lines easily but the rest was forgotten. This is a poem that enchants children and makes for a very good "Assembly item" too. many thanks

---

10 Apr 09 - 06:28 AM (#2608569)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Carol Robbins

I cried when I saw all the references to this poem that my darling daddy used to tell me every night to help me sleep....
I thought I was the only person who knew it!
I have/am passong it on to my darling grandchildren so they have the magic of it.
I think the magic is the way it scans when you 'tell it' gently to a loved one?
I am painting pages to go with the words for my grandchildren & they can pass it on to theirs!
I woulds be delighted to hear from anyone who loved this poem in the 1950's! Please contact me [e-mail] There is a majic about this poem....
Carol xx

---

26 Sep 09 - 09:47 AM (#2731751)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Carolyn

Thank you. My dad died 8 weeks ago and I was trying to remember this verse as he use to say it to me a lot. Now I can tell my kids...means HEAPS

---

15 Oct 09 - 07:03 PM (#2747063)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Catherine Hynes

Dear Mr. Taylor:

You are my cousin. Your mother Patricia Frankenberger is my Aunt. My mother was Babette MacKenzie Hastings (nee Georgia Frankenberger).

I was looking for this poem to share with my grandchildren.

For some reason our families were not close. My mother rarely discussed anything relating to her side of the family. I have no idea why and I know very little.

Best wishes,

Catherine Hastings Hynes ([e-mail])

---

07 Nov 09 - 08:45 AM (#2761462)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a h
From: GUEST,Kate

My singing teacher Barbara Dix from Southport (Merseyside, England) taught me this, I now have a daughter and couldn't remember all the words, but thanks to this forum I now have all of them. Thanks all x

---

16 Jan 10 - 07:29 AM (#2813509)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Tabi-Kat

There once was a rabbit discovered the habit of twitching the end of his nose.
His sisters and brothers and various others said, "Look at the way that it goes!"
Now one little bunny said, "Isn't that funny? I'll practise it down in the dell."
Said others, "If he can, I'm positive we can," and did it remarkably well.
Now all the world over, where rabbits eat clover, and burrow and scratch with their toes,
There isn't a rabbit who hasn't the habit of twitching the end of his nose!

Sorry about bad grammar :D thanks

---

09 Jul 10 - 06:54 PM (#2942652)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,David

My mother will celebrate her 100th birthday soon. While visiting her with my then teenage daughter a number of years ago. Mom, out of the clear blue offered up, "There once was a Rabbit, who developed the habit of twitching the end of its nose. One clever Bunny said, "isn't that funny, I'll practice it down in the dell. Sisters and Brothers and various others said, "if he can we're positive we can and did it remarkably well." Now all the world over, where Bunnies eat clover and wriggle and scratch with their toes. There isn't a Rabbit that hasn't the habit of twitching the end of its nose.
As my mother said she learned the poem at age 13 (1923) I was curious to find the author and this site has been most helpful. By the way, my daughter and I memorized the poem while washing our car that summer.

---

18 Jul 10 - 01:11 AM (#2946997)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,MichaelQC

This poem was in my fourth or fifth grade Christian Brothers School reader in 1955-6 in Perth Western Australia.

---

18 Jul 10 - 04:34 AM (#2947022)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Susan

Has anyone heard of a poem/song I only know a fragment of called Polperika (or Polpareka Polparika - I am not sure of the spelling)
it goes like this -

Every week come Sunday Morning
Down the avenue together
Polperika and her husband
Stroll in every kind of weather.
She arises bright and early
Mixes up his morning potion
Irons out his shirt and trousers
Just to prove her great devotion
Then to secure him
From girls who would lure him
She dons bright feathers.......

And I do not know the rest. I hope some one out there does.
Thank you in anticipation!

---

19 Feb 11 - 08:21 PM (#3098791)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Roy Price, Alice Springs

The "rabbit poem" was recited by my father to me and my siblings from 1930 onwards. My father passed away in the early 70s but the poem has endured in our families.

I have the most pleasant memory from 2001 when my siblings (and their spouses) came to Alice Springs (from Victoria and Tasmania) to celebrate my 50th birthday. Later in the evening I asked my brothers and sisters to gather around and told the other guests that we were going to perform. My brothers and sisters looked at each other as they had no idea what I was talking about. I then said "One, two three. There once was a ......" and my brothers and sisters all chimed in and recited the poem with me with actions as well. Of course the audience thought we were mad, but it meant a lot to us. Sadly I have lost 2 brothers to cancer since 2001 so there will be fewer of us to recite the rabbit poem when I have my 60th birthday party in a couple of weeks time.

---

09 Jul 11 - 03:09 PM (#3184502)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Wobbie the Wabit

My God! I've been trying to remember the words for this for years! When I was 5 years old, I (dressed as a rabbit) had to stand on an enourmous stage recite this in front of the entire school. I'll never forget it! and ever since, i've been called Wobbie the Rabbit by my family!

---

09 Jul 11 - 03:23 PM (#3184504)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Wobbie the Wabit

I forgot to mention, when I recited this poem, it was in 1969. I was 5! I am now 47. I recited it at a school show at Mt Torrens primary school in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia... We had to think of something to do and my Mum taught this to me (she also made me a very cute rabbit costume), she's passed away now but she learnt it at school in Sydney in the early 1940's. I probably remember it so well because I received much praise for my recital! :-) Funny how things can stick in our memory and this has been poppoing into my hyead for years and never could remember all the words. Only the first which definately went:

There once was a rabbit who developed the habbit
of twitching the end of his nose.

Now, one little bunny said, that's very funny
I'll practise in down in the Dell.

Thats all I could remember....

I LOVE Internet..... its the little things....

---

12 Oct 11 - 07:08 AM (#3237719)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Rosemary

Thank you sooo much for this - I have been racking my brains for ages about the missing middle verses!! I learnt it from my younger brother when he was about 7 to 9 years old and he's now in his fifties. Judging from the above comments from many Aussies, it seems it was a standard school poem in the sixties. Thank you again for setting my mind at rest

---

10 Nov 11 - 05:47 PM (#3254599)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Johann

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17981640
Sydney Morning Herald Wednesday 14 August 1946

---

14 Nov 11 - 07:42 PM (#3257128)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: Jim Dixon

Bravo, Johann! I believe this is the first time anyone has traced this poem to a printed source.
Oddly enough, I couldn't see that page in the Sydney Morning Herald using Google Chrome (all I got was a blank window), but I could see it with Internet Explorer.

The page heading says "CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MEMBERS" and below that "Try your hand at original sketches" and "Send in original stories, poems and puzzles." It seems to be a page for children. Here is the text:

Rabbits

There was once a rabbit developed the habit of twitching the end of his nose,
His sisters and brothers and various others said, "Notice the way that it goes,"
One clever bunny said, 'That's very funny, I'll practise it down in the dell,"
The others said, "If he can, we can," and they did it remarkably well.
Now in all the world over where rabbits eat clover and burrow and scratch in earth with their paws,
There isn't a rabbit that hasn't the habit of twitching the end of his nose.

2/6 in savings stamps and four points to B. Casey, 23 Busby Parade, Waverley.

If I understand that last line correctly, B. Casey got a reward for submitting the poem. However, since the regular rhythm breaks down in lines 4 and 5, and is thus inferior to some copies we already have, I'd wager two-and-six that the poem was not an original one by B. Casey, and was already a bit corrupted after leaving the pen of its true author.

---

04 Feb 12 - 11:19 AM (#3302058)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Sarah-Marie Teasdale

Rabbit Poem

There was once a rabbit
Developed the habit,
Of twitching the end of his nose.
His sisters and brothers
And various others
Said, "Notice the way that it goes".

Now one clever bunny
Said, "That's very funny,
I'll practise it down in the dell".
The rest said, "If he can,
I'm positive we can".
And did it remarkably well.

Now all the world over,
Where rabbits eat clover,
And burrow and scratch with their toes,
There isn't a rabbit,
Who hasn't the habit,
Of twitching the end of its nose.

who wrote that? It's very good

---

09 Mar 12 - 09:06 AM (#3320410)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Pat Harris

Susan, I was looking for the Polperika song. My sister used to sing it. I remember it just as you wrote it except the last lines are:

Her brightest feathers she dons to secure him.
Polperika and her husband stroll together bright and early
Sunday morning!

---

01 Jul 12 - 03:05 PM (#3370357)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Christy-Lyn

Hello everyone!

This poem has also been made into a song called "Rabbits". The words are listed as anonymous and the music is by Helen Deacon. There is also an Afrikaans version of the song written into the sheet music, but I never learned that. I was taught the song in primary school and sang it as one of my first solos in the local singing Eisteddfod (here in South Africa) when I was 9 years old. I absolutely loved it and thought it was so funny and clever :) Such fond memories.

I have been going through old family videos recently, and decided to put the video of the song "Rabbits" on youtube. If you would like to watch it, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twy2K8vI-X8

And I found the sheet music for sale here: http://www.boosey.com/shop/prod/Helen-Deacon-Rabbits-Deacon-anon-unison/2032249

The words are almost exactly the same as those listed above.

Lovely to find so many other people who love this poem.

Regards,
Christy-Lyn

---

28 Oct 12 - 10:28 PM (#3427553)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST

My brother was taught this poem as a child and when we had family concerts he was always encouraged to recite it. That was 70 years ago and the family has loved it ever since. We never knew where is came from (probably some long lost aunt taught it to him) and I can't believe that so many people around the world have been cherishing it as much as our family has. I trust many more children will have the pleasure of learning it and reciting it.

Regards, Nelva Cameron - Australia.

---

31 Jul 14 - 04:15 AM (#3646882)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Guest

The rabbit poem was also published in the 1975 (or 74) Bath University Rag Mag, although not exactly the same wording.

Guest UK

---

08 Feb 18 - 02:51 PM (#3904416)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Julie East

I memorized this for my son 30+ years ago-

Old English Nursery Rhyme
Remembered by Julie East

There once was a rabbit who developed the habit
Of twitching the end of its nose.
Its sisters and brothers and various others
Said “Notice the way that it goes.”

Then one little bunny said, “Isn’t it funny?
I’ll practice it down in the dell.”
They all said, “If he can, I’m positive we can.”
And did it remarkably well!

Now all the world over, where bunnies eat clover,
And wiggle and scratch with their toes;
There isn’t a rabbit who hasn’t the habit
Of twitching the end of its nose.

---

09 Feb 18 - 11:40 AM (#3904614)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Andiliqueur

I sing this to the tune of Ye Banks and Braes.It fits well.

---

17 Mar 18 - 11:25 PM (#3911567)
Subject: Wee Wigglenose
From: GUEST,Jeanne

Help please ! For years I have searched for a child’s book 1940’s -1950’s about a rabbit/bunny named Weewigglenose. He may be in a book with other stories. I can’t remember. He got his name because he wiggled his nose and I think he was small.
During this time when I read the book I lived in Chicago
to mid 50’s. I’m not sure if that helps.
Thank you thank you thank you!! -Jeanne

---

18 Mar 18 - 12:44 AM (#3911574)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: Charlie Baum

GUEST, Jeanne--

Basic Readers - Curriculum Foundation Series: Friends and Neighbours
by Gray, William S. (William Scott), 1885-1960

Publication date 1940
Topics English
Publisher Gage : Toronto
Collection ualbertawiedrick; university_of_alberta_libraries; toronto
Digitizing sponsor University of Alberta Libraries
Contributor University of Alberta Libraries
Language English
Volume Book 2.1

Go to:
https://archive.org/details/basicreaderscurr21gray
There's a book at the top of the page. Then scroll to the story on pp. 102-108.

---

13 Sep 18 - 02:36 PM (#3950214)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST

I suspect you may have the answer by now but the missing lyrics are;

‘Now, all the world over,
Where bunnies eat clover
And scramble and scratch with their toes,
There isn’t a rabbit
Who hadn’t the habit
Of twitching the end of his nose!’

Best,

Johnny

---

26 Oct 18 - 04:37 AM (#3958433)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: There once was a rabbit developed a habit
From: GUEST,Nancy

I have the music of it, & will record it with the children if you like or can forward the music. ?

---