The Leather-Winged Bat

"The Leather-Winged Bat" is the third song of Jake Heggie's song set Three Folk Songs.

"The Leather-Winged Bat" is an American folksong probably derived from an old English song about three ravens. The song was collected by Francis Child and published in the late 19th century in five volumes entitled Child Ballads.

Date: 1994Composer: Jake HeggieSong Collection: Three Folk Songs

Print vitals & song text

Text

The Leather-Winged Bat
Traditional Folk Song

Hi, said the little old leather-winged bat,
I will tell you the reason that,
The reason that I fly in the night:
I’ve lost my heart’s delight.

High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum,
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh day
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum
Diddle Diddle dum! Dah day oh…

Hi, said the woodpecker sittin’ on the fence,
Once I caught me a handsome wench,
She got sassy and from me fled,
and ever since then: my head’s been red!

High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum,
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh day,
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum,
Diddle Diddle dum! Dah day oh…

Hi, said the bluebird as he flew,
Once I caught me a young girl, too,
She got sassy and wanted to go–
So I tied a new string to my bow.

High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum,
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh day,
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum,
Diddle Diddle dum! Dah day oh…

Hi, said the robin as he flew,
When I was a young man, I’d court, too,
If a one didn’t love me, the other one would,
Now, don’t you think my notion’s good?

High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum,
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh day,
High-oh day-oh diddle-oh dum,
Diddle Diddle dum! Dah day oh…

Sheet Music

The Faces of Love (Book 3)

Composer(s): Jake Heggie

Song(s): 1. Barb'ry Allen
2. He's Gone Away
3. The Leather-Winged Bat

Voice Type: Medium

Buy via E. C. Schirmer

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