Anonymous: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Lady-bird

Anonymous

“The Lady-bird” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

Anonymous: Collected Lyrics Text 26 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

O Lady-bird, Lady-bird, fly away home!

The squirrel add field-mouse have gone to their nest;

The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes,

The bees and the insects and birds are at rest.

Verse 2

O Lady-bird, Lady-bird, fly away home!

The glow-worm is lighting his glittering lamp;

The dew's falling fast, and your fine speckled wings

Will be moisten'd and wet with the close-clinging damp.

Verse 3

O Lady-bird, Lady-bird, fly away home!

The sweet little fairy bells tinkle afar;

Make haste, or they'll catch you and harness you fast

With a gossamer cobweb to Oberon's car.

Credits

Written by Anonymous

Words by Anonymous. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “The Lady-bird”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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