anna lee

listen now children a story i'll tell, of a woman they called anna lee, she had a fine son and she raised him up well, and a daughter as lovely as she, i'll return to you, dear, in the dimming of day, as the sparrow returns to her nest, i'll return to you dreaming with each lullaby, hold your sweet weary head to my breast, she sang to her darlings a sweet lullaby, as the cool evening shadows grow long, angels and nightingales gather at night, just to hear mother anna lee's song, i'll return to you, dear, in the dimming of day, as the sparrow returns to her nest, i'll return to you dreaming with each lullaby, hold your sweet weary head to my breast, i heard it one morning she rode into town, to tend to her dear sister there, she kissed her two babies on check and on brow, and left them with nary a care, the wind it did rise and the rain it did fall, the river, a shadowy wave, anna lee never heard danger's dark call, and was swept to her watery grave, i'll return to you, dear, in the dimming of day, as the sparrow returns to her nest, i'll return to you dreaming with each lullaby, hold your sweet weary head to my breast