Pete Seeger - Henry My Son

Where have you been all the day,
Henry my son?
Where have you been all the day,
My currant bun?
In the woods, dear mother
In the woods, dear mother
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

What did you do in the woods all day,
Henry my boy?
What did you do in the woods all day,
My saveloy?
Ate, dear mother. Ate, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

What did you eat in the woods all day,
Henry my son?
What did you eat in the woods all day
My pretty one?
Eels, dear mother. Eels, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

What color were those eels, Henry
My boy?
What color were those eels, my pride and joy
Green and yeller. Green and yeller.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

Those eels were snakes, Henry my son.
Those eels were snakes, my pretty one.
Urgh, dear mother. Urgh, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

Where have you been all the day,
Henry my son?
Where have you been all the day,
My currant bun?
In the woods, dear mother
In the woods, dear mother
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

What did you do in the woods all day,
Henry my boy?
What did you do in the woods all day,
My saveloy?
Ate, dear mother. Ate, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

What did you eat in the woods all day,
Henry my son?
What did you eat in the woods all day
My pretty one?
Eels, dear mother. Eels, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

What color were those eels, Henry
My boy?
What color were those eels, my pride and joy
Green and yeller. Green and yeller.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

Those eels were snakes, Henry my son.
Those eels were snakes, my pretty one.
Urgh, dear mother. Urgh, dear mother.
Mother be quick I got to be sick and
Lay me down to die.

12-string Guitar: Henry My Son

Although a version of this song is to be found in Soodlum's Irish Ballad Book, I found the lyrics for it on a site on the internet where it is part of a performance by ...

Green and yeller (Henry my son)/Wounded John Scott Cree - live 1978

Old Music Hall song, learned from Paul Sherman, recorded live at Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton Poly, UK 1978. There is an earlier (black and white) version of ...

Sons Of Erin, Henry My Son

Newfoundland Artist.

Henry My Son

traditional folk song (parody)

Pete Seeger