Swing Song

    As I swing, as I swing,     Here beneath my mother's wing,     Here beneath my mother's arm,     Never earthly thing can harm.     Up and down, to and fro,     With a steady sweep I go,     Like a swallow on the wing,     As I swing, as I swing.     As I swing, as I swing,     Honey-bee comes murmuring,     Humming softly in my ear,     "Come away with me, my dear!     In the tiger-lily's cup     Sweetest honey we will sup."     Go away, you velvet thing!     I must swing! I must swing!     As I swing, as I swing,     Butterfly comes fluttering,     "Little child, now come away     'Mid the clover-blooms to play;     Clover-blooms are red and white,     Sky is blue and sun is bright.     Why then thus, with folded wing,     Sit and swing, sit and swing?"     As I swing, as I swing,     Oriole comes hovering.     "See my nest in yonder tree!     Little child, come work with me.     Learn to make a perfect nest,     That of all things is the best.     Come! nor longer loitering     Sit and swing, sit and swing!"     As I swing, as I swing,     Though I have not any wing,     Still I would not change with you,     Happiest bird that ever flew.     Butterfly and honey-bee,     Sure 't is you must envy me,     Safe beneath my mother's wing     As I swing, as I swing.