This English folk song is often known as “The Riddle Song.” However, it is just one of many such riddle songs, often sung as lullabies or ballads. It has become popular throughout the English-speaking world, since its possible 16th-century origin. According to
Song Facts,
some sources claim there are hidden messages in the lyrics, but there is no such mystery. At the end of the day, it’s a simple folk song, though it can indeed be a hypnotic melody.
I hope you enjoy this arrangement with a verse on ukulele and viola, one on ukulele and alto recorder, and 2 lyre verses in the middle!