I first sang this song this way for Ayla. Because the original lyrics escaped me. But Ayla hates it when I sing.
Indy, however, asks me to sing it most every night. If I start singing something else, she says "No, bird! Bird!".
This is my version:
Hush little Indy, don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird don't sing
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke
Mama's gonna make you an omelette with no yolk
And if that omelette don't taste good
Mama's gonna make it taste like it should
And if my Indy's still not pleased,
Mama's gonna make it with ham and cheese
And if that omelette still tastes bad,
Then my little Indy be very sad
So hush little Indy, don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you
A mocking
(kiss Indy)
Bird.
If you ever put Ayla to sleep, this is what you need to do.
You turn off the lights. Make sure she has her nipple (this is our word for binkie, because Ayla's binkie is a bottle nipple). Make sure she has her blankie. She might want her knuffle bunny. Then you stroke her forehead down to her nose between her eyes. And then you say, quietly and rhythmically:
The stars are sleeping.
The moon is sleeping.
The trees are sleeping.
The wind is sleeping.
(the first four lines are always the same. Then it varies every time.)
The earth is sleeping.
The rivers are sleeping.
The lakes are sleeping.
The flowers. Are sleeping.
The fairies are sleeping.
The elves are sleeping.
The gnomes are sleeping.
The trolls and goblins and witches are sleeping.
The pixies are sleeping.
The mountains are sleeping.
The ocean is sleeping.
The desert and plains and prairie are sleeping.
The sun is sleeping.
(next we move on to zoo animals)
The gorillas are sleeping.
The tigers are sleeping.
The elephants and lions and zebras are sleeping.
The wolves are sleeping.
The mice are sleeping.
The penguins are sleeping.
The fish and the frogs and the snakes are sleeping.
(go on until you run out of zoo animals and then go on to farm animals if you're in the mood)
And then, we always end with:
Grandma is sleeping.
Papa is sleeping.
Ferris is sleeping.
Auntie Hoddie is sleeping.
Uncle Justin is sleeping.
Eisley is sleeping.
Grandpa is sleeping.
Grammy is sleeping.
Auntie Mercy and Uncle Trey are sleeping.
Sophie is sleeping.
Zach and Suzy are sleeping.
Carlton is sleeping.
Doodoo is sleeping.
Gingy and Josh and Lucky are sleeping.
Daddy is sleeping.
Indiana is sleeping.
And Ayla. (kiss) Is sleeping.
(the last three lines are always the same too).
I included Ferris because he was always in our recitation before today. Today Ferris has left this earth but he will never leave us. In dog heaven, there are many fish. There are magic tennis balls that allow a dog to fit seven in his mouth at one time. There are grass and rivers until eternity and there is always good company. Always a scratch behind the ears. Always a stick soaring through the air. Always the memory of our love, lingering in the place of a dog's instinct; the place that never leaves. Happy Trails, Ferris. We will love you for always.
