Little Cabin in the Woods

DESCRIPTION: "Little cabin in the woods Little man by the window stood, Saw a rabbit hopping by, Frightened as can be. 'Help me, help me, help,' he said, 'Or the hunter will shoot me dead.' 'Little rabbit, come inside, Safely to abide.' Repeat with variants
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1997 (mudcat.org thread "Lyr Req: In a Cabin in the Woods")
KEYWORDS: animal hunting rescue campsong
FOUND IN: US(NE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, pp. 112, 393-395, "Little Cabin in the Woods"/"Little Cottage in the Woods" (notes only)
DT, CABINWDS RABTHOUS
Roud #36116
RECORDINGS:
Alessandra Delia-Lôbo, "Little Cabin in the Woods" (Piotr-Archive #391, recorded 12/18/2022)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
In the Woods There Stands a House
In a Cabin in the Woods
NOTES [129 words]: The mudcat.org thread for this has versions from all over the United States, from England, the Carribean, and even translations into Dutch and German. One person speculated that the original was in French, which might explain the somewhat stilted English. It is obviously incredibly widespread. (I'd be interested in a study of the various motions used along with it.) But it's not clear if any of those versions were passed orally, as opposed to being learned in scout camps. So I haven't listed the song as "found in" any of those places.
There seems to be disagreement over whether the rabbit comes inside and is saved or comes inside and is killed and eaten. My guess would be that it started with the latter and that some singers decided to take (metaphorical) pity. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: ACSF112L

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