As a shape note singer I have in recent years often visited Warsaw to take part in the Warsaw Sacred Harp Conventions. I always stay at the Castle Inn which is conveniently close to the convention venues. The reception staff at the hotel knowing that I am a folk singer and having sung to them in the foyer they have kindly given me some scores of Polish folk songs. Był sobie król is one of them.
This a lullaby about a king, a page and a princess who love each other but finish up eating each other. The brutal reality is that the king, page and princess are made of sugar, gingerbread and marzipan respectively. How an infant should sleep on being sung this gruesome tale beats me!

Lyrics