Who Killed Cock Robin?
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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 will make his shroud? I, said the Beetle, With my thread and needle, I’ll make the shroud. Who will dig his grave? I, said the Owl, With my pick and shovel, I’ll dig his grave. Who will be the priest? I, said the Rook, With my little book, I’ll be the priest. Who will be the clerk? I, said the Lark, If it’s not at night, I’ll be the clerk. Who will carry the chain? I, said the Linnet, I’ll get it right away; I’ll carry the chain. Who will be the chief mourner? I, said the Dove, I mourn for my beloved; I’ll be the chief mourner. Who will carry the coffin? I, said the Kite, If it isn’t during the night, I’ll carry the coffin. Who will bear the pall? We, said the Wren, Both the rooster and the hen, We’ll bear the pall. Who will sing a psalm? I, said the Thrush, While sitting on a bush, I’ll sing a psalm. Who will ring the bell? I, said the Bull, Because I’m strong enough to do so. Farewell, poor Cock Robin. All the birds in the sky Wept and sighed, When they heard the bell ringing For poor Cock Robin. NOTICE: To all those concerned, this notice informs you that the Sparrow is to stand trial at the next bird court
Is this really a “nursery rhyme”? It’s so scary.
In fact, English nursery rhymes often depict darkness and murder. “Who Killed the Sparrow” is more like a description of a murder than a nursery rhyme. There are many dark themes in the Mother Goose rhyme series as well; for example, “Lizzie Borden Took An Axe”: Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother forty blows. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one blows.
My Mother Has Killed Me My mother has killed me, My father is eating me, My brothers and sisters sit under the table, Picking up my bones, And they bury them under the cold marble stones. Only when a pure child’s voice sings such a lullaby can one understand what darkness really is