1.   "Twas on a merry time, when Jenny Wren was young,
     So neatly as she danced, and so sweetly as she sung, 

2.   Robin Redbreast lost his heart -- he was a gallant bird;
     He doffed his hat to Jenny, and thus to her he said: 

3.   "My dearest Jenny Wren, if you will but be mine,
     You shall dine on cherry-pie, and drink nice currant-wine.

4.   "I'll dress you like a Goldfinch, or like a Peacock gay;
     So if you'll have me, Jenny, let us appoint the day."

5.   Jenny blushed behind her fan, and thus declared her mind,
     "Then let it be tomorrow, Bob; I take your offer kind.

6.   "Cherry-pie is very good; so is currant-wine;
     But I will wear my brown gown, and never dress too fine."

7.   Robin rose up early, at the break of day;
     He flew to Jenny Wren's house, to sing a roundelay.

8.   He met the Cock and Hen, and bade the Cock declare,
     This was the wedding-day with Jenny Wren the fair.

9.   The Cock then blew his horn, to let the neighbors know
     This was Robin's wedding-day, and they might see the show.

10.  And first came Parson Rook, with his spectacles and band;
     And one of Mother Goose's books he held within his hand.

11.  Then followed him the Lark, for he could sweetly sing;
     And he was to be clerk at Cock Robin's wedding.

12.  He sung of Robin's love for little Jenny Wren;
     And when he came unto the end, then he began again.

13.  The Bulfinch walked by Robin, and thus to him did say,
     "Pray, mark, friend Robin Redbreast, 

15.  Then came the bride and bridegroom; 

16.  But Robin cheered her up; "My pretty Jen," said he,
     "We're going to be married, and happy we shall be."

17.  The Goldfinch came on next, to give away the bride;
     The Linnet, being bridesmaid, walked by Jenny's side.

18.  And as she was a-walking, said, "Upon my word,
     I think that your Cock Robin is a very pretty bird."

19.  "And will you have him, Jenny, your husband now to be?"
     "Yes, I will," says Jenny, "and love him heartily."

20.  The Blackbird and the Thrush and charming Nightingale,
     Whose sweet "jug" sweetly echoes through every grove and dale; 

21.  The Sparrow and Tomtit, and many more were there;
     All came to see the wedding of Jenny Wren the fair.

22.  "O, then," says Parson Rook, "who gives this maid away?"
    .  "I do," says the Goldfinch, "and her fortune I will pay; --

23.  "Here's a bag of grain of many sorts, and other things beside;
     Now happy be the bridegroom, and happy be the bride!"

24.  Then on her finger fair, Cock Robin put the ring;
     "You're married now," says Parson Rook; 

26.  The birds were asked to dine; not Jenny's friends alone,
     But every pretty songster that had Cock Robin known.

27.  They had a cherry-pie, besides some currant-wine,
     And every guest brought something, that sumptuous they might dine.

28.  Now they all took a bumper, and drank to the pair;
     Cock Robin the bridegroom, and Jenny Wren the fair.

29.  The dinner things removed, they all began to sing;
     And soon they made the place near a mile around to ring.

30.  The concert it was fine;' and every bird tried
     Who best should sing for Robin, and Jenny Wren the bride.

31.  When in came the Cuckoo, and made a great rout;
     He caught hold of Jenny, and pulled her about.

32.  Cock Robin was angry, and so was the Sparrow,
     Who fetched in a hurry his bow and his arrow.

33.  His aim then he took, but he took it not right;
     His skill was not good, or he shot in a fright;

34.  For the Cuckoo he missed--but Cock Robin he killed!
     And all the birds mourned that his blood was so spilled.

1.   Who killed Cock Robin?
     "I," said the Sparrow,
     "With my bow and arrow,
     And I killed Cock Robin."

2.   Who saw him die?
     "I," said the Fly,
     "With my little eye,
     And I saw him die."

3.   Who caught his blood?
     "I," said the Fish,
     "With my little dish,
     And I caught his blood."

4.   Who made his shroud?
     "I," said the Beadle,
     "With my little needle,
     And I made his shroud."

5.   Who shall dig his grave?
     "I," said the Owl,
     "With my pick and shovel,           (originally: shouell)
     And I'll dig his grave."

6.   Who'll be the parson?
     "I," said the Rook,
     "With my little book,
     And I'll be the parson."

7.   Who'll be the clerk? 

8.   Who'll carry the link? 

9.   Who'll be the chief mourner?
     "I," said the Dove,
     "I'll mourn for my love,
     And I'll be chief mourner."

10.  Who'll carry the coffin?
     "I," said the Kite,

11.  Who'll bear the pall?
     "We," said the Wren,
     "Both the cock and the hen,
     And we'll carry the pall."

12.  Who'll sing the psalm?
     "I," said the Thrush,
     As she sat on a bush.
     "And I'll sing a psalm."

13.  And who'll toll the bell?
     "I," said the Bull, 

14.  All the birds of the air
     Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
     When they heard the bell toll
     For poor Cock Robin.
 

These two ballads, together, tell a tale, but it should be noted that the first was written after the second. Publisher John Harris commissioned the writing of the wedding of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren to precede the already-popular "The Death and Burial of Cock Robin," publishing it in 1806 as "The Happy Courtship, Merry Marriage and Picnic Dinner, of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren.