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

I called him to my side and said, "Now son, you go to bed
Your conduct has been very very rude."
With quivering 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 brightened by his bright ascending beam
Our boy now in our heart was very dear
I hastened to his bed one night, he was talking in his sleep
He didn't seem to know that we were near

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 crying 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