> Tim Hart and Friends > Songs > The Riddle Song

The Riddle Song

[ Roud 330 ; Ballad Index R123 ; trad.]

The Riddle Song is a part of the song Captain Wedderburn's Courtship that has found a life of its own. Tim Hart and Maddy Prior sang it in 1983 on Tim Hart and Friends' album Drunken Sailor and Other Kids Songs. This track was later included on their compilation CD Favourite Nursery Rhymes and Other Children's Songs.

Lyrics

I gave my love a cherry that had no stone
I gave my love a chicken that had no bone
I gave my love a story that had no end
I gave my love a baby with no crying

How can there be a cherry that has no stone?
How can there be a chicken that has no bone?
How can there be a story that has no end?
And ow can there be a baby with no crying?

A cherry when in blossom, it has no stone
A chicken when it's in the egg, it has no bone
The story of “I love you”, it has no end
A baby when it's sleeping, has no crying