Piping down the valleys wild, br Piping songs of pleasant glee, br On a cloud I saw a child, br And he laughing said to me: br br 'Pipe a song about a Lamb!' br So I piped with merry cheer. br 'Piper, pipe that song again;' br So I piped: he wept to hear. br br 'Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe; br Sing thy songs of happy cheer:!' br So I sang the same again, br While he wept with joy to hear. br br 'Piper, sit thee down and write br In a book, that all may read.' br So he vanish'd from my sight; br And I pluck'd a hollow reed, br br And I made a rural pen, br And I stain'd the water clear, br And I wrote my happy songs br Every child may joy to hear.