Away, Pretty Robin Lyrics
The speaker would love to keep the robin and feed it, but sends it home to its nest instead, with a last look at its bright eyes, soft feathers and red breast.
Away, Pretty Robin
Away, pretty robin, fly home to your nest,
To make you my captive I still should like best,
And feed you with worms and with bread:
Your eyes are so sparkling, your feathers so soft,
Your little wings flutter so pretty aloft,
And your breast is all cover'd with red.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/away-pretty-robin/
- Type
- Animal Rhymes
- Tune
- Spoken rhyme
- Best for ages
- 2 to 7 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Away, pretty robin | Open your cupped hands and let the bird go. |
| Your little wings flutter | Flutter your fingers high in the air. |
| Your breast is all cover'd with red | Pat your chest. |
What Does Away, Pretty Robin Mean?
The speaker admits they would like best to make the robin their captive, a pet in a cage, and feed it worms and bread. But the first word is "away": the robin is sent home to its nest. The rest of the rhyme is a fond goodbye, describing its sparkling eyes, soft feathers and the red breast that gives the robin its name.
History and Origin
The rhyme comes from The Only True Mother Goose Melodies (1833), one of the earliest American Mother Goose books. Robins appear in many nursery rhymes, from Little Robin Redbreast to The North Wind Doth Blow.
Learning Activities
- Let it go: make a paper robin and "fly" it home to a nest.
- Describe it: name three things about a bird you have seen, as the rhyme does.
- Wild or pet: talk about which animals are happiest living free.