[From Manx Fairy Tales, 1911]

LITTLE RED BIRD

Little red bird of the black turf ground,
Where did you sleep last night ?
I slept last night on the top of the briar,
And oh! what a wretched sleep!

Little red bird of the black turf ground,
Where did you sleep last night ?
I slept last night on the top of the bush,
And oh! what a wretched sleep!

Little red bird of the black turf ground,
Where did you sleep last night ?
I slept last night on the ridge of the roof,
And oh! what a wretched sleep!

Little red bird of the black turf ground,
Where did you sleep last night?
I slept last night between two leaves
As a babe 'twixt two blankets quite at ease,
And oh! what a peaceful sleep!

An old Manx Lullaby.