The sheep's in the meadows,
The kye's in the corn,
(Thou's ower lang in thy bed)
Bonny at morn
The sheep's in the meadows,
The kye's in the corn,
(Thou's ower lang in thy bed)
Bonny at morn
Canny at night,
Bonny at morn
(Thou's ower lang in thy bed)
Bonny at morn.

The bird's in the nest,
The trout's in the burn,
Thou hinders thy mother
In many a turn.
The bird's in the nest,
The trout's in the burn,
Thou hinders thy mother
In many a turn.
Canny at night,
Bonny at morn
(Thou's ower lang in thy bed)
Bonny at morn.

We're all laid idle
Wi' keeping the bairn
The lad winnot work
And the lass winnot learn,
We're all laid idle
Wi' keeping the bairn
The lad winnot work
And the lass winnot learn,
Canny at night,
Bonny at morn
(Thou's ower lang in thy bed)
Bonny at morn.

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: North Countrie Folk Songs for Schools, Ed Whittaker, Pub Curwen, 1921

Notes:
The notes for the song say the line in brackets is always addressed to the lazy son who stays on bed o' mornings, while the rest of the lullaby is crooned to the baby, winning and adored, but a hinderance to domestic duties.

Reprinted from Northumbrian Minstrelsy (1882).

Roud: 3064 (Search Roud index at VWML)
Laws:
Child: