Don’t Make Me Go to Bed (and I’ll Be Good)

A laughing baby boy, one evening in his play
Disturbed the household with his noisy glee
I warned him to be good, but he soon did disobey
For he would soon forget a word from me

I called him to my side and said, Now son, you must go to bed
'Cause your conduct has been very very rude
With trembling lips and tear-filled eyes he pleaded then with me
Don't make me go to bed, and I'll be good

Don't, papa, and I'll be good
Don't, papa, and I'll be good
That's what I heard him say, and it haunts me night and day
Don't make me go to bed, and I'll be good

Our lives have just been gladdened by his bright ascending beam
Our boy now in our hearts was very dear
I hastened to his bed, found him talking in his sleep
He didn't seem to know that we were near

I took him in my arms, and found his body wracked with pain
To ease his pain we did the best we could
It broke my heart to hear him crying loudly in his sleep
Don't make me go to bed, and I'll be good

Don't, papa, and I'll be good
Don't, papa, and I'll be good
That's what I heard him say, and it haunts me night and day
Don't make me go to bed, and I'll be good

How sorrow fills our heart, how fears oppress our mind
When danger gathers 'round those ones we love
He lingered but a day, then his spirit passed away
To join the angel chorus up above

All night and day we watched and prayed, we never left his side
To give him up it seemed we never could
It broke my heart to hear him saying, just before he died
Don't make me go to bed, and I'll be good

Don't, papa, and I'll be good
Don't, papa, and I'll be good
That's what I heard him say, and it haunts me night and day
Don't make me go to bed, and I'll be good