A Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes/Nursery Songs/LXXV. WHO KILLED COCK-ROBIN?
Who killed cock-robin?
I, said the sparrow,
With my bow and arrow,
I killed cock-robin.
Who saw him die?
I, said the fly,
With my little eye,
I saw him die.
Who caught his blood?
I, said the fish,
With my little dish,
I caught his blood.
Who'll make his shroud?
I, said the beetle,
With my thread and needle,
I'll make hs shroud.
Who'll dig his grave?
I, said the owl,
With my spade and shovel,
I'll dig his grave.
Who'll be the parson?
I, said the rook,
With my little book,
I'll be the parson.
Who'll be the clerk?
I, said the lark,
If it's not in the dark,
I'll be the clerk.
Who'll bear him to his grave?
I, said the kite,
If it's not in the night,
I'll bear him to his grave.
Who'll carry the link?
I, said the linnet,
I'll fetch it in a minute,
I'll carry the link.
Who'll be chief mourner?
I, said the dove,
I mourn for my love,
I'll be chief mourner.
Who'll bear the pall?
We, said the wren,
Both the cock and the hen,
We'll bear the pall.
Who'll sing the psalm?
I, said the thrush,
As she sat in a bush,
I'll sing the psalm.
Who'll toll the bell?
I, said the bull,
Because I can pull,
And so, cock-robin, farewell!
All the birds of the air
Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor cock-robin.