"I" said the little leatherwing bat
"I'll tell to you the reason that
The reason that I fly by night
Is because I've lost my heart's delight"

Refrain:
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Howdy dowdy diddle-dum day
Hey le lee-lee lie-lee low

"I" said the blackbird sittin' on a chair
"Once I courted a lady, fair
She proved fickle and turned her back
And ever since then I've dressed in black"

(Refrain)

"I" said the woodpecker sittin' on a fence
"Once I courted a handsome wench
She got scared and from me fled
And ever since then my head's been red"

(Refrain)

"I" said the little turtle dove
"I'll tell you how to win her love
Court her night and court her day
Never give her time to say o-neigh!"

(Refrain)

"I" said the bluejay and away he flew
"If I were a young man I'd have two
If one were faithless and chanced to go
I'd add the other string to my bow"

(Refrain)

Hey le lee-lee lie-lee low