Henry My Son

1. Where have you been all the day, Henry my son?
Where have you been all the day, My currant bun?
In the woods, dear mother
In the woods, dear mother
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

2. What did you do in the woods all day, Henry my boy?
What did you do in the woods all day, My saveloy?
Ate, dear mother. Ate, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

3. What did you eat in the woods all day, Henry my son?
What did you eat in the woods all day My pretty one?
Eels, dear mother. Eels, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

4. What color were those eels, Henry My boy?
What color were those eels, my pride and joy
Green and yeller. Green and yeller.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

5. Those eels were snakes, Henry my son.
Those eels were snakes, my pretty one.
Urgh, dear mother. Urgh, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.


A song that was originally from a Child ballad from England that travelled to Ireland and the US, with each version a bit different.  This one’s pretty close to what Pete Seeger sang.  Watch out, though, as the first three lines are in 3:4 time, but the last line is 4:4 time!