ID: 106
Date: 2000
Title: Now I lay me down to sleep
Gender: Male 
Classification: Parody 
Rhyme: 

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray my bladder doesn't leak. 
If I should die before I wake. 
I pray my Lord will dry my lake.

(Palmerston North, 2000)

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Now I lay me down to sleep,
Ask the Lord my soul to keep.
Come in peace to the land of dreams.
"CRASH - destroy the world."

(Motueka, 2000)

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Background Info: From Knapp, 1976:171 comes:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
A bag of apples at my feet.
If I die before I wake,
You'll know it was a stomach ache.

(Rhode Island, 1964)

Now I lay me down to sleep;
My car is parked across the street.
If it should roll before I wake,
I pray the Lord put on the brake.

Now I lay her on the bed,
I pray to God I'll use my head.

==

Onwuchekwa, 2003:102 includes variations from urban black America:

Now I lay me down to slumber,
I pray the Lord I hit the number.
If I should die before I wake, 
Put all I own on 208.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the double lock will keep,
May no brick through the window break
And no one rob me till I wake.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
A bag of peanuts (candy) at my feet,
If I should die before I wake,
You'll know I died of a belly ache.

==

From Withers, 1948:197:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
A bag of peanuts at my feet.
If I should die before I wake,
Give them to my sister Kate.

==
 
Keywords: scatological, gambling, violence, greed 
Location: Palmerston North 
Group size: 2 
Incidence: 2