Birds in their nest

My mum sang this to me as a baby/young child and now I sing the same song to my newborn daughter. I believe I know all the words, but I'd like to know who wrote it and/ or where it comes from. Thanks, Tamsin (I'm in UK)

"Birds in their nest, nest up in a tree
Under mummy's wing, safe as safe can be.
Mummy keeps you warm, daddy brings you food,
Safe in your nest, happy little brood

Mind you do not fall, from your nest so high,
You've no feathers yet, so you cannot fly.
When your feathers grow, on some sunny day,
You will learn to fly, chirrup, chirrup away."

Comments for Birds in their nest

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Nov 13, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you!
by: Anonymous

Thank you, everyone, for replying and posting over all these years.

I'd all but forgotten that I posted on here back in 2013; coincidentally, a family member just searched up the lyrics today and unknowingly found my original post.

My newborn daughter is now 11 years old!

I've loved reading about the various different versions, and also how far this song, & it's sibling versions, have travelled around the world.
Heartwarming stories indeed.

Let's continue to pass down precious gifts, like this one, for future generations to treasure.

God bless,
Tamsin x
Nov 13, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you!
by: Tamsin

Thank you, everyone, for replying and posting over all these years.

I'd all but forgotten that I posted on here back in 2013; coincidentally, a family member just searched up the lyrics, today, and unknowingly found my original post.

My 'newborn' daughter is now 11 years old!

I've loved reading about the various different versions, and also how far this song, & it's sibling versions, have travelled around the world. Heartwarming stories indeed.

Let's continue to pass down precious gifts, like this one, for future generations to treasure.

God bless,
Tamsin x
Apr 05, 2024
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Wow
by: Peacemaker Chinonso echerebo

Am from imo state in nigeria
My dad use to sing this song in igbo language and in english to us when we were young
I didnt know the song in full,but always remember the beginning and the ending "fly far far away", now today (friday 5th of April 2024)I decide to search for it again once more
And lo and behold here it is...
I now remember every words of it as my dad use to sang it...
Thanks to who ever posted this online
You and your entire house hold will always remain blessed.....
May 18, 2023
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Lovely memories NEW
by: Heather

My father sang us this lullaby. He was born in London 1934, evacuated to Ross on Wye. His little grandmother used to sing it to him. None of my American friends or any one that I know really knows of this song. It is wonderful to see it here.
His version was -
Birdies in the nest, 1, 2 and 3
Under mummy’s breast, warm as warm can be. Mummy keeps them warm, daddy brings them food. Happy little birds, happy little brood. When their feathers grow on a sunny day, they will learn to fly far far away.
I can still here his voice…
Apr 29, 2023
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Wow NEW
by: Anonymous

I'm from the caribbean and my grand dad used to sing this to me everyday as a child . I just typed it into google search bar hoping that this was an actual song.
Sep 13, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Oh! Oh! NEW
by: Wendy

Thank you for this !!!!! I ha ve wondered about this nursery song FOREVER!!!!
Apr 11, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Love to know its origin NEW
by: Anonymous

Birdies in their nest 1 2 and3
Under mummy's breast as warm as warm can be
Mummy keeps them warm Daddy brings them food
Troubles they have none , happy little brood

When your feathers grow ,on some sunny day
You will learn to fly far far away .

My mother sang this to me in the 50's in Devon I sung it to my children and now my grand children
Feb 16, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A variant on Birds in their nest
by: Brent B

Birds in a nest, nest upon a tree,
Under mother's breast, warm as warm can be.

Mother keeps you warm, daddy brings you food,
Safe within your nest, happy little brood.

Mind that you do not fall, from your nest on high,
for you have no feathers yet, so you cannot fly.

When your feathers grow, on some sunny day,
you shall learn to fly, chirp, chirp away.

A poem recited by Helen H. 86 yr old in 1978, in Issaquah, WA (USA) nursing home
Feb 07, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A song I cant remember all the words but some NEW
by: Margot

There is nest within our tree,
A wagtail built it daintily.
With grass and mud and cobwebs small.
You never guess it was there at all.
A tree elf told me this one day,
as quite by chance I passed his way.

I did miss part of it, but cant remember it all.
Oct 03, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Written by A. J. Ellis NEW
by: Anonymous

This is "Sparrows in a nest" written by Alexander John Ellis, a mathematician and philologist and published in a book of nursery rhymes that he wrote for his own children in the 1860s.

My mother sang it to me as a baby (as "birds in their nest", but with other words almost the same). It must have been handed down through several generations from the printed version. I sing it to my son now!
May 21, 2020
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Sparrows NEW
by: Karen

Sparrows in a nest , 1 and 2 and 3 .
On their mothers Breast , warm as warm can be,
Mother keeps them warm , father brings them food , troubles the have none , happy little brood

Mind you do not fall , from your nest so high
You’ve no feathers yet , you must learn to fly
When your feathers come , on a sunny day
You will learn to fly , fly , fly away
Oct 28, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Wirral? NEW
by: Anonymous

I was excited to see this. My grandmother used to sing this (with a few words slightly different but both verses) but have never found anyone else who had heard it. She was born in the Wirral in 1887 as was her mother.
Aug 27, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Old lullabies
by: Anonymous

Loved it."Sparrows in their nests" was reputedly a song sung about 70 years ago by my forbearers but we can't find the words. Can anyone help us?

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Lullaby Search.

Share this page:

Amy's Lullabies are available at major etailers.

Lullaby and Goodnight - 33 Lullabies for Babies
 

Legal Stuff

Privacy Policy

Children's Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Disclosure Statement