A laughing baby boy one evening in his play
He disturbed the household with his noisy glee
Well I warned him to keep quiet but he soon would disobey
For he would soon forget a word from me

Then I called him to my side and said son you must go to bed
For 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 papa 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 papa and I'll be good

Our lives have just been gladdened by his bright ascending beam
Our boy now in our hearts was very dear
Well I hastened to his bed and found him talking in his sleep
He didn't seem to know that we were near

So I took him in my arms and found his body raked with pain
To ease his pain we did the best we could
It broke my heart to hear him cryin' so loudly in his sleep
Don't make me go to bed papa 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 papa and I'll be good

All night and day we watched and prayed and we never left his side
To give him up it seemed we never could
It broke my heart to hear him saying just before he died
Don't make me go to bed papa 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 papa and I'll be good