Soft nest in the willow,
No cover, no pillow;
The gentle winds rock,
In slender treetop,
Six birdies beneath their mother's warm wings,
All fast asleep till the sun daylight brings.

On soft grassy meadow,
Beneath the oak's shadow,
Lies each snow-white lamb,
Beside its own dam.
They're all fast asleep and they will not awake
Till swallows 'gin chatt'ring and day 'gins to break.

The stars are not sleeping,
In heav'n vigil keeping,
They watch thro' the night,
With soft silv'ry light.
They peep thro' the cloudlets that float o'er the moon.
They'll not go to bed till the day has begun;

Till daylight is breaking
The children are waking;
The lambkins do bleat
And birdies sing sweet.
The stars then must go to their heavenly bed
As soon as the sun his bright radiance doth shed.

If others but knew it,
How night-prowlers rue it,
They'd all go to sleep
When stars 'gin to peep;
Then sleep, baby darling, on mother's soft breast,
Like lambkins in fold, like the bird in its nest.