Come Let's to Bed

Origin: England

Lyrics

"Come, let's to bed,"Says Sleepy-head;"Tarry awhile," says Slow;"Put on the pot,"Says Greedy-gut,"Let's sup before we go."

To bed, to bed,Cried Sleepy-head,But all the rest said No!It is morning now;You must milk the cow,And tomorrow to bed we go.

"Come, Let's to Bed" is a traditional English nursery rhyme. A soothing bedtime song, the rhyme uses playful humor to depict the familiar negotiations between children and their caregivers when it is time to sleep.

Origins

The exact origin of the rhyme is unknown, as it was passed down through oral folklore before being documented in print. The rhyme is cataloged in the Roud Folk Song Index under number 13063. The first verse, featuring the characters Sleepy-head, Slow, and Greedy-gut, emerged in eighteenth-century English folklore and was printed in early nursery collections. The second verse, containing the lines about milking the cow, was a later nineteenth-century addition that is often absent in the oldest historical publications.

Meaning & Interpretation

The lyrics are structured as a comical conversation between personified human traits. Sleepy-head represents the desire to go to bed immediately, Slow represents the urge to delay bedtime, and Greedy-gut represents the appetite wanting to eat a late supper before sleeping. The term "greedy-gut" was a common, lighthearted British slang phrase in the eighteenth century for someone who eats excessively.

The dialogue humorously reflects the persistent struggle parents face when trying to get children to sleep. By turning the different delays (staying up late or wanting a snack) into distinct, funny characters, the rhyme helps acknowledge a child's feelings while establishing a bedtime routine.

What is the meaning of Come Let's to Bed?

The rhyme is a humorous look at bedtime delays. It personifies different reactions to bedtime: one person wants to sleep immediately, one wants to delay, and one wants to eat before resting.

Who are the characters in Come Let's to Bed?

The characters are Sleepy-head (who wants to sleep), Slow (who wants to wait), and Greedy-gut (who wants to eat). They represent the typical arguments children make to delay going to bed.