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The Death And Burial Of Poor Cock Robin — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

Who killed Cock Robin?
"I," said the sparrow,
"With my little bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin."
Who saw him die?
"I," said the fly,
"With my little eye,
I saw him die."
Who caught his blood?
"I," said the fish,
"With my little dish,
I caught his blood."
Who'll make his shroud?
"I," said the beetle,
"With my thread and needle.
I'll make his shroud."
Who'll carry the torch?
"I," said the linnet,
"I'll come in a minute,
I'll carry the torch."
Who'll be the clerk?
"I," said the lark,
"If it's not in the dark,
I'll be the clerk."
Who'll dig his grave?
"I," said the owl,
"With my spade and trowel
I'll dig his grave."
Who'll be the parson?
"I," said the rook,
"With my little book,
I'll be the parson."
Who'll be chief mourner?
"I," said the dove,
"I mourn for my love,
I'll be chief mourner."
Who'll sing a psalm?
"I," said the thrush,
"As I sit in a bush.
I'll sing a psalm."
Who'll carry the coffin?
"I," said the kite,
"If it's not in the night,
I'll carry the coffin."
Who'll toll the bell?
"I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull,
I'll toll the bell."
All the birds of the air
Fell sighing and sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor Cock Robin.

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Learning from "The Death And Burial Of Poor Cock Robin"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "The Death And Burial Of Poor Cock Robin" uses 52 lines to create a memorable verse — proof that effective poetry doesn't need to be long. Pay attention to the meter: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is what makes the rhyme stick in your head.

Songwriters and poets can borrow these patterns. Try writing your own lyrics using the same rhyme scheme and line length as this nursery rhyme. You can also use words from the poem above as starting points — click any word to find rhymes or look up its definition, then build from there.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the words to The Death And Burial Of Poor Cock Robin?
The lyrics to The Death And Burial Of Poor Cock Robin are: Who killed Cock Robin? / "I," said the sparrow, / "With my little bow and arrow, / I killed Cock Robin." / Who saw him die? / "I," said the fly, ... Read the full 52-line nursery rhyme at Rhyme Buster.
How many lines does The Death And Burial Of Poor Cock Robin have?
"The Death And Burial Of Poor Cock Robin" has 52 lines of verse.