"Be Our Friend (Children's Song)" Copyright 2004 by Erica Beay/VEGANGELICA
(Based on a French children’s song from 1744)
Baa, baa, white sheep,
have you any wool.
Yes, oh yes, a whole back full,
but my hair, as you can see,
should stay here on my body
for it’s part of me.
Moo, moo, brown cow,
have you any cream?
Yes, oh yes, sweet as a dream,
but my milk is for my calf.
Please don’t take her from me
or cut our lives in half.
Oink, oink, pink pig,
have you any meat?
No! it’s my flesh!
And I'm not for you to eat!
For I love living and moving around,
happily searching for roots underground.
Cluck, cluck, speckled hen,
have you any eggs?
Yes, oh yes, safely nestled by my legs,
but they can’t get cracks or nicks,
for they are slowly growing
into cuddly little chicks.
Gobble, gobble, turkey,
have you legs and breast?
Yes, oh yes, so I can walk and rest,
but I need them to survive.
Please don’t plan to carve me.
I want to stay alive.
Quack, quack, duckling,
have you meat to give?
No! I don’t, because I want to live!
I love to swim in the glittering lake.
My life belongs to me.
It isn’t yours to take.
You don’t need meat, milk, eggs, or wool.
There is no need to harm an animal.
Help us live our lives as long as they extend
and be our friend.
Honk, honk, gray goose,
have you any down.
Yes, oh yes, a silky feather gown,
but my feathers keep me warm and dry.
Please don’t kill and pluck me.
I don’t want to die.
Lowing, lowing cattle,
have you any hides?
Yes, oh yes, protecting our insides,
but our hides are feeling, living skin.
Please don’t round us up
to end the lives we’re in.
Hop, hop, rabbit,
have you fur for me?
No! I don’t, because I want to be free!
I love the springtime when winter snow thaws.
Please don’t try to capture me
in steel trap jaws.
You don’t need leather, down or fur.
There is no need to harm a creature.
Help us live our lives as long as they extend
and be our friend.
What can you use
since you shouldn’t use us?
That is a question we really should discuss.
Cotton, linen, flax, and rice,
garbanzo beans and
sesame tahini are nice.
Peanut butter,
almond butter, too,
and whole grain breads are good for you.
Kale, broccoli, and fruits galore.
Add vitamin B-12.
Who could ever ask for more?
But more there is.
A fruit and vegetable feast.
You don’t need to harm a living beast.
Help us live our lives as long as they extend.
Treat us all with kindness
and be our friend.
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Photo sources:
Sheep (www.freephotosbank.com)
Brown cow (photo by Erica Beay)
Piglet (Public Domain)
Hen (Public Domain)