A laughing baby boy one evening in his play

Disturbed the household with his noisy glee

I warned him to be quiet but he soon would disobey

For he would soon forget a word from me

I called him to my side and said now son you go to bed

Your conduct has been very very rude

With quivering lips and tear filled eyes he pleaded then with me

Don't make me go to bed and I'll be good



Don't papa and I'll be good don't papa and I'll be good

That's what I heard him say and it haunts me night and day

Don't make me go to bed and I'll be good



Our lives have just been gladdened by his bright ascending beam

Our boy now in our heart was very dear

We hastened to his bed one night he was talking in his sleep

He didn't seem to know that we were near

I took him in my arms and found his body raked with pain

To ease the pain we did the best we could

It broke my heart to hear him crying loudly in his sleep

Don't make me go to bed and I'll be good

[ fiddle ]

All night and day we watched and prayed we never left his side

To give him up it seemed we never could

It broke my heart to hear him crying just before he died

Don't make me go to bed and I'll be good



Don't papa and I'll be good...