ID: 148
Date: 1940 - 2006
Title: Birdie,birdie
Gender: Male and Female 
Classification: Autograph 
Rhyme: 

Little bird flying by,
Dropped a bomb in [Sally's] eye,
Now, now [Sally] don't you cry,
Aren't you glad that cows don't fly?

(Ashburton, 2006)

--

Birdie, birdie flying by, 
Dropped a drop in mummy's eye,
Mummy, mummy don't you cry, 
Aren't you glad that cows can't fly.

(Auckland, 1960s)

--

One day when I went walking by,
I saw a birdie in the sky.
He dropped a message in my eye.
Thank heavens [ X] does not fly!

(NZ, 1984)

--

Ha, ha, ha, hee, hee, hee,
A little brown bird flew over me.
It dropped an anchor in my eye,
It's a damn good thing, that cows can't fly.

(Ashburton, 1940s)

--

Birdie, birdie, in the sky,
Dropped his mail in [X's] eye,
Now don't you fret and don't you cry,
Just be thankful cows can't fly.

(Wellington, 1960s)

--

Birdie, birdie, flying high,
Dropped a speck in [X's] eye.
[X, X,] don't you cry,
Aren't you glad that cows don't fly?

(Porirua, 1960s; Leeston, 1960)

--

Said the farmer, wiping eye,
Thank God, cows don't fly.

(NZ ex UK, 1950s)

--
 
Background Info: Possibly connected with bawdy adult song:

All the eagles they fly high in Mobile,(mow-beel)
All the eagles they fly high in Mobile,
All the eagles they fly and they shit in your eye,
It's a good job cows don't fly in Mobile.

==

Little birdie flying high,
Dropped a message from the sky.
As I wiped it from my eye,
I thanked the Lord that cows don't fly.

(Brisbane, 1940s)
Variations from Turner, 1969:115-116.

==

From Lowenstein, 1974:11:

As a bird was flying high
It dropped a message from the sky,
And as I wiped it from my eye,
I thanked the Lord that cows don't fly.

(Melbourne, 1967)

A little bird was flying by,
He dropped a message in a policeman's eye,
The policeman said as he wiped his eye,
I sure am glad that cows don't fly.

(Melbourne, 1967)

Little bird flying high,
Dropped a message from the sky,
Said the man, wiping his eye,
Bloody good job cows don't fly.

(Newcastle, 1950s)

==
 
Keywords: scatological 
Location: Various NZ 
Group size: 4 
Incidence: 8