There once was a bird that lived up in a tree, <br />And all he could whistle was "Fiddle-dee-dee" - <br />A very provoking, unmusical song <br />For one to be whistling the summer day long! <br />Yet always contented and busy was he <br />With that vocal recurrence of "Fiddle-dee-dee." <br /> <br />Hard by lived a brave little soldier of four, <br />That weird iteration repented him sore; <br />"I prithee, Dear-Mother-Mine! fetch me my gun, <br />For, by our St. Didy! the deed must be done <br />That shall presently rid all creation and me <br />Of that ominous bird and his 'Fiddle-dee-dee'!" <br /> <br />Then out came Dear-Mother-Mine, bringing her son <br />His awfully truculent little red gun; <br />The stock was of pine and the barrel of tin, <br />The "bang" it came out where the bullet went in - <br />The right kind of weapon I think you'll agree <br />For slaying all fowl that go "Fiddle-dee-dee"! <br /> <br />The brave little soldier quoth never a word, <br />But he up and he drew a straight bead on that bird; <br />And, while that vain creature provokingly sang, <br />The gun it went off with a terrible bang! <br />Then loud laughed the youth - "By my Bottle," cried he, <br />I've put a quietus on 'Fiddle-dee-dee'!" <br /> <br />Out came then Dear-Mother-Mine, saying: "My son, <br />Right well have you wrought with your little red gun! <br />Hereafter no evil at all need I fear, <br />With such a brave soldier as You-My-Love here!" <br />She kissed the dear boy. <br />(The bird in the tree <br />Continued to whistle his "Fiddle-dee-dee")<br /><br />Eugene Field<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/fiddle-dee-dee/
