3/4 Tempo [Verse] D A D Listen now children a story I'll tell G D Of a woman they called Anna Lee D A D She had a fine son and she raised him up well G D And a daughter as lovely as she [Chorus] A D I'll return to you, dear, in the dimming of day G D As the sparrow returns to her nest D G D I'll return to you dreaming with each lullaby G D Hold your sweet weary head to my breast [Verse] D A D She sang to her darlings a sweet lullaby G D As the cool evening shadows grow long D A D Angels and nightingales gather at night G D Just to hear mother Anna Lee's song [Chorus] A D I'll return to you, dear, in the dimming of day G D As the sparrow returns to her nest D G D I'll return to you dreaming with each lullaby G D Hold your sweet weary head to my breast [Verse] D A D I heard it one morning she rode into town G D To tend to her dear sister there D A D She kissed her two babies on cheek and on brow G D And left them with nary a care D A D The wind it did rise and the rain it did fall G D The river, a shadowy wave D A D Anna Lee never heard danger's dark call G D And was swept to her watery grave [Chorus] A D I'll return to you, dear, in the dimming of day G D As the sparrow returns to her nest D G D I'll return to you dreaming with each lullaby G D Hold your sweet weary head to my breast