Pete Seeger - Henry My Son lyrics

You know it may seem hard to imagine But once upon a time people didn't have Any such thing as television, didn't have any radios And if you wanted to have any music You just had to make it yourself It was only the kings and queens That could afford to have somebody else make music for them And you might not think it would be very good music Everybody making their own music But you'd be surprised, in almost every family It seemed like there'd be somebody who could sing a song Or tell a story or tell a joke or something And in the evening they'd crowd around the fire May be so keep warm One man told me he learned how to play the fiddle Because he noticed the fiddler always got to stand nearest to the fire So he decided that if he wants to stay warm He better learn how to play the fiddle And they'd sing these old ballads you know, like Where have you been all the day, Randall my son? Where have you been all the day, my pretty one? I've been to my sweetheart, mother I've been to my sweetheart, mother Mother, make my bed soon, for I'm sick to my heart And I fain would lie down That's an old old song, very sad one But I met a fellow last November over in England And he said he knew it a different way Everybody knows these songs different ways it seems He says, when he was a kid, all the, all the kids used to sing it Where have you been all the day, Henry my boy? Where have you been all the day, my pride and joy? In the woods, dear mother In the woods, dear mother Mother be quick, I got to be sick and lay me down to die What did you do in the woods all day, Henry my son? What did you do in the woods all day, my pretty one? Ate, dear mother Ate, dear mother Mother be quick, I got to be sick and lay me down to die What did you eat in the woods all day, Henry my boy? What did you eat in the woods all day, my saveloy? Eels, dear mother Eels, dear mother Mother be quick, I got to be sick and lay me down to die What color was those eels, Henry my boy? What color was 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 Those eels were snakes, Henry my boy Those eels were snakes, my saveloy Urgh, dear mother Urgh, dear mother Mother be quick, I got to be sick and lay me down to die What color flowers would you like, Henry my son? What color flowers would you like, my currant bun? Green and yeller Green and yeller Mother be quick, I got to be sick and lay me down to die