Once there was a swallow,
And her birdies three.
Birdies three, a la volette
And her birdie three.
They were all so eager
To be on their own.
On their own, a la volette
To be on their own.
Said the anxious mother
"You can barely fly".
Barely fly, a la volette
You can barely fly.
But they would not listen
And they flew away.
Flew away, a la volette
And they flew away.
To the woods they wandered
Singing merrily.
Merrily, a la volette
Singing merrily.
A hungry fox was waiting
And he gobbled them up.
Gobbled them up, a la volette
And he gobbled them up.
Said the angry mother
"I told you so".
Told you so, a la volette
Said "I told you so".
It's a very sad story
And I think I'll cry.
Think I'll cry, a la volette
And I think I'll cry.