Little Bird

DESCRIPTION: "Where are you going, little bird, little bird, Where are you going, little bird? I am going to the woods, sweet child, sweet child." What is in the woods? A tree. In the tree is a nest, in the nest, eggs, in the eggs, baby birds to sing "Praise the Lord"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1931 (Fuson-BalladsOfTheKentuckyHighlands)
KEYWORDS: questions bird nonballad
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Fuson-BalladsOfTheKentuckyHighlands, p. 89, "Little Bird" (1 text)
Scarborough-ASongCatcherInSouthernMountains, pp. 359-400, "The Tree in the Wood/Pretty Bird" (1 text)
ST Fus089 (Partial)
Roud #4281
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Rattling Bog" (theme)
NOTES [44 words]: Lumped by Scarborough with the Endless Circle/Tree in the Wood/Rattling Bog family. But the versions of this do not complete the circle, and add the religious motif. This may well have started from a fragment of the English song, but they're separate, sez I. - RBW
File: Fus089

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