When I was a little kid bed time stories were a real highlight at the end of my day. One of my favorite movies of all time now is the Princess Bride which revolves around a bedtime story. The off the cuff wild bedtime stories I told to my kids when they were growing up were some of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had. To this day when I see Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on the news, I say to myself: Where’s Winken? Where’s Nod? (Winken, Blinken and Nod was a popular bedtime story back in my day)
Children have a tendency to be a bit hyper. They are trying to absorb everything they can from an exciting new world which changes every day. But sleep is extremely important for children of all ages and when they need to go to bed parents need a fix.
The fix is usually the venerable classic, the bedtime story. These stories can take many forms but one of those forms is a musical story in the style of traditional music:
https://youtu.be/eLD0RLtbNbo?si=9UObAVQea2wHqJfH
That song was by the Chieftans but I heard it first from the Orpheus Supertones who played in nearby Sebastoplol some years ago. Here are the lyrics:
Go to sleep, go to sleep Go to sleep you little baby
When you wake, get some cake Ride them pretty little horses
Black and bay, sorrel and gray Whole heap of little horses
Black and bay, sorrel and gray Whole heap of little horses
Little ole horse, little ole cow Amblin’ around the old hay mow
Little ole horse, he took a chew Darned if I don’t, said the ole cow too.
Go to sleep, go to sleep Go to sleep you little baby
Black and bay, sorrel and gray Whole heap of little horses
Go to sleep, go to sleep Go to sleep you little baby
Black and bay, sorrel and gray. Whole heap of little horses
Another great bedtime song you can sing your kids or grandkids to sleep with is Froggie Went a Courtin’. Bob Dylan may have copyrighted the song but he didn’t write it. My favorite version is Doc Watson’s. The link below is a little rough but stick with it.
https://youtu.be/CNn0TjzWYc0?si=Nrxx1VYipuYd4KlU
Now that you have the tune in your head, here are some more standard traditional lyrics you can sing to your children as you put them to bed. They need to hear music and what could be better than a musical bed time story?
Froggie Went a Courtin’ Froggie went a-courtin’, and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Frog went a-courtin’, and he did ride, Uh-huh,
Frog went a-courtin’, and he did ride.
With a sword and a pistol by his side,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey’s door, Uh-huh,
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey’s door, Uh-huh.
Well he rode up to Miss Mousey’s door.
Gave three loud raps and a very big roar, Uh-huh.
Said, “Miss Mouse, are you within?” Uh-huh,
Said he, “Miss Mouse, are you within?” Uh-huh,
Said, “Miss Mouse, are you within?”
“Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin,”
He took Miss Mousey on his knee, Uh-huh,
Took Miss Mousey on his knee, Uh-huh,
Took Miss Mousey on his knee.
Said, “Miss Mousey, will you marry me?” Uh-huh.
“Without my uncle Rat’s consent, Uh-huh
“Without my uncle Rat’s consent, Uh-huh
“Without my uncle Rat’s consent.
I wouldn’t marry the president,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat laughed and he shook his fat sides,
To think his niece would be a bride, Uh-huh.
Uncle Rat went runnin’ downtown, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat went runnin’ downtown, Uh-huh,
Uncle Rat went runnin’ downtown.
To buy his niece a wedding gown, Uh-huh
Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
Where shall the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
Where shall the wedding supper be?
Way down yonder in a hollow tree, Uh-huh.
What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
What should the wedding supper be? Uh-huh,
What should the wedding supper be?
Fried mosquito in a black-eye pea, Uh-huh.
Well, first to come in was a flyin’ moth, Uh-huh,
First to come in was a flyin’ moth, Uh-huh,
First to come in was a flyin’ moth.
She laid out the table cloth, Uh-huh.
Next to come in was Mrs. Cow, Uh-huh.
Next to come was Mrs. Cow, uh-huh
She tried to dance but she didn’t know how,
Danced a jig with the bumbley bee, Uh-huh.
Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a little black tick, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a little black tick.
She ate so much she made us sick, Uh-huh
Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a big black snake, Uh-huh,
Next to come in was a big black snake.
Ate up all of the wedding cake, Uh-huh.
Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh,
Next to come was the old gray cat, Uh-huh
Next to come was the old gray cat.
Swallowed the mouse and ate up the rat, Uh-huh.
Mr. Frog went a-hoppin’ up over the brook, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went a-hoppin’ up over the brook, Uh-huh,
Mr. Frog went a-hoppin’ up over the brook.
A lily-white duck come and swallowed him up, Uh-huh.
A little piece of cornbread layin’ on a shelf, Uh-huh,
A little piece of cornbread layin’ on a shelf, Uh-huh,
A little piece of cornbread layin’ on a shelf.
If you want anymore, you can sing it yourself, Uh-huh.
By this time your beautiful child is hopefully sound asleep so it doesn’t really matter if you can make up any new verses or not.
Sleep well and remember. There’s nothing like a clear conscience. Especially if you end the day with a good story.
