Donkey, Donkey I Beg You

"Donkey, Donkey I beg you, please don't sing heehaw..." This lighthearted children's song is a popular English adaptation of a classic Chinese children's melody. It describes a gentle, humorous dialogue where a child tries to bribe a noisy donkey with food to keep it quiet, capturing a playful dynamic between children and working animals.

Origins

The song is an English translation and adaptation of the widely known Chinese children's song titled "Little Donkey" (我有一只小毛驴). The English version was created in 1987 for a children's audio publisher. While the English adaptation is relatively recent, the original Chinese song is older. Some sources suggest that the music and original lyrics were composed by Lin Zhong Jiong in 1960, though this authorship remains unconfirmed.

Meaning & Interpretation

The lyrics portray a simple, amusing interaction. The singer is asking the donkey to stop its loud braying, offering to feed it in exchange for silence. In rural agricultural settings, donkeys were common working animals, and children would frequently interact with them. The song highlights the loud, disruptive nature of the donkey's call, known as "hee-haw," which children find entertaining to mimic.

What is the original Chinese song behind this rhyme?

The rhyme is based on the Chinese song "Little Donkey" (我有一只小毛驴). In the original Chinese version, the singer talks about having a little donkey that they ride to the bazaar, only to end up falling into the mud. The English translation changed the focus to asking the donkey not to make noise in exchange for food.

Who wrote the music for the song?

The composition is often attributed to Lin Zhong Jiong in 1960. However, this attribution is not officially verified, and the song is largely treated as a traditional modern children's melody in Chinese-speaking communities.