Tuesday, April 15, 2008

LITTLE BIRDY IN A TREE--TRADITION, SUNG AND NOW VISUAL.

Little birdie in a tree,
In a tree,
In a tree.
Little birdie in a tree,
Sing a song to me.

Sing about the birdies,
In the tree top tall,
Sing about the flowers,
Growing on the wall.

Little birdie in a tree,
In a tree,
In a tree.
Little birdie in a tree,
Sing a song to me.


Not a very imaginative nursery song, is it? But, being what life is, this is one of the songs Mom sang to me as an infant. It is one of the songs she sang to her grandchildren, sixteen of them, Her Excellency of Mousehole was not born when my darling mother died. The only grandchild, number seventeen, who never knew Grandma Rasmussen, who never heard this song from her Grandma's lips. This is one of the songs I sang to my five children, Her Excellency of Mousehole being the last.

Last Christmas this is one of the things Her Excellency of Mousehole gave me. A tribute to tradition, started how many generations back, I don't know. But I do know one thing. It will be carried forward, partially because of this beautiful painting.





And here is the little birdie, in a tree, who sings a song to me--and to past generations of children, who grew up to sing to their children, who will sing to their children, and on and on.

Thank you, Her Excellency of Mousehole. I love you.

I know you love me too.

Mom

7 comments:

Sayani said...

"mom" the greatest gift of God....
the love we share passes through her and it so right....:)

tearese said...

Awe...thats so neat, to know traditions will live on. My mom always sang us the same song in her medly of nighttime songs. I don't even know where it came from, but my sister and I both sing it to our toddlers now. Quickly, here is the first verse:
Tell me why the stars do shine
tell me why the ivy twines
tell me why the sky's so blue
and I will tell you just why I love you.
It has three verses...and for some reason I always called it the "twine song" because of the ivy part.
My daughter is smarter and refers to it as the "Tell me why song." Makes much more sense.

Anonymous said...

Hi Lynne,
Thank you for the link you sent to me for my birthday!
Traditions do live one. And I had one of the best days ever! Three of my friends brought me lilac bushes to plant!!
Yes ....traditions are wonderful.
We have an AWESOME God!!
Pam 'Oh Da Woods!!!

Alisa said...

I love this- it is beautiful!
What a talented daughter!

C.C. said...

That painting is fabulous! You have a very talented daughter. It's great that you stress tradition in your home. Your kids must be very grateful to you for that.

Laura B said...

This is the first time any one other than my family has known this song. Our version is a bit different, but it's the same song!

Little birdie in a tree, in a tree, in a tree,
Little birdie in a tree, sing a song for me

Sing about the roses on the garden wall, sing about the tree tops, up so high and tall
Little birdie in a tree, in a tree, in a tree,
Little birdie in a tree, sing a song for me.

I am so glad you posted this and I found it! :)

Unknown said...

My dad, born in 1898, sang this song to me as a little girl but I remember him singing, "Sing about the farmer, planting corn and beans, sing about the harvest, you know what I mean!" There were other verses too but that is the only one I remember. Thank you for talking about this wonderful traditional song!