Poor Babes in the Woods

Cat. #1314 (MFH #61) - As sung by Jim Ward, Fort Smith, Arkansas on July 14, 1967

VERSE 1
O dear, did you know
A long time ago
Three little children
Whose names I don't know
Were stolen away
On a bright summer day
And left in th woods
As I've heard people say

VERSE 2
When came th night
So sad was their plight
Th sun went down
An' th moon gave no light
They sobbed an' they sighed
An' they bitterly cried
An' th poor little babes
They lay down an' died

VERSE 3
An', when they were dead
Th robins, so red
Brought strawberry leaves
An' over them spread
An' all day long
They sang this sweet song
Poor babes in th woods
Poor babes in th woods

Variants