"I" said the little leatherwing bat
"I'll tell to you the reason that
The reason that I fly by night
Is because I've lost my heart's delight. "
Refrain:
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Hey le lee-lee lie-lee low
"I" said the blackbird sittin' on a chair
"Once I courted a lady, fair.
She proved fickle and turned her back
And ever since then I've dressed in black. "
(Refrain)
"I" said the woodpecker sittin' on a fence
"Once I courted a handsome wench
She got scared and from me fled
And ever since then my head's been red. "
(Refrain)
"I" said the little turtle dove
"I'll tell you how to win her love
Court her night and court her day
Never give her time to say o-neigh! "
(Refrain)
"I" said the bluejay and away he flew
"If I were a young man I'd have two
If one were faithless and chanced to go
I'd add the other string to my bow"
(Refrain)
Hey le lee-lee lie-lee low