I'm pretty brave, I guess; an' yet I hate to go to bed,

For when I'm tucked up warm an' snug an' when my prayers are said,

Mother tells me "Happy dreams!" and takes away the light,

An' leaves me lyin' all alone an' seein' things at night!

Sometimes they're in the corner, sometimes they're by the door,

Sometimes they're all a-standin' in the middle uv the floor;

Sometimes they are a-sittin' down, sometimes they're walkin' round

So softly an' so creepy-like they never make a sound!

Sometimes they are as black as ink, an' other times they're white—

But the color ain't no difference when you see things at night!