Cock Robin

This item is part of the I. G. Greer Folksong Collection which consists of more than 300 individual song titles and their variants as collected by Isaac Garfield Greer (1881-1967) from informants, primarily in Ashe, Wilkes and Watauga counties. The collection includes manuscripts, typescript transcriptions produced by Dr. Greer’s clerical staff, and handwritten musical notations. Songs range from traditional Child Ballads, traditional English and Scottish ballads as well as their American variants, to 19th century popular music to musical compositions of local origin.

Ballads, English

Robins--Songs and music

Anthropomorphism--Songs and music

Death--Songs and music

Who Killed Cock Robin, Who Killed Poor Robin

AC.113 Isaac Garfield (I.G.) Greer Papers and Recordings

W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection, Appalachian State University

Greer, I. G. (Isaac Garfield), 1881-1967

PDF

English

Text

Cocky Robin.
Tune: C.J.S.
From Knox Co., Kentucky

1. Who killed Cocky Robin? Who killed Cocky Robin?
I, said the sparrow, with my little bow and arrow.
It was I. It was I.

2. Who saw him die? …
I, said the fly, with my little teency eye. …

3. Who caught his blood? …
I, said the fish, with my little silver dish. …

4. Who made his coffin? …
I, said the snipe, with my little pocket knife. …

5. Who made his shroud-en?
I, said the eagle, with my little sewing needle. …

6. Who dug his grave? …
I, said the crow, with my little spade and hoe. …

7. Who hauled him to it? …
I, said the lark, with my little horse and cart. …

8. Who let him down? …
I, said the crane, with my little golden chain. …

9. Who pat his grave? …
I, said the duck, with my little paddy foot. …

10. Who preached his funeral?
Who preached his funeral?
I, said the swallow, just as loud as I could holler.
It was I. It was I.


(Verses 4, 8, and 9, are from the Middleton
family, Jackson Co., N.C.)

C. J. S., Middleton family

Brown, Additional Ballads - 315

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