不少的推理小说或推理漫画喜欢引用这首诗。如 S.S.范达因在 1928 年出版的著名推理小说“The Bishop Murder Case”中即引用了这首与其余两首鹅妈妈童谣麻雀杀了知更鸟，麻雀要在下回的审判中受审，杀人要偿命!
Who killed Cock Robin? 知更鸟之死
谁杀了知更鸟?
是我，麻雀说，
用我的弓和箭，
我杀了知更鸟。
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
With my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin.
谁看见他死去?
是我，苍蝇说，
用我的小眼睛，
我看见他死去。
Who saw him die?
I, said the Fly.
With my little eye,
I saw him die.
谁取走他的血?
是我，鱼说，
用我的小碟子，
我取走他的血。
Who caught his blood?
I, said the Fish,
With my little dish,
I caught his blood.
谁为他做寿衣?
是我，甲虫说，
用我的针和线，
我会来做寿衣。
Who’ll make his shroud?
I, said the Beetle,
With my thread and needle,
I’ll make the shroud.
谁来挖坟墓?
是我，猫头鹰说，
用我的凿子铲子，
我会来挖坟墓。
Who’ll dig his grave?
I, said the Owl,
With my pick and shovel,
I’ll dig his grave.
谁来当牧师?
乌鸦说，是我，
用我的小本子，
我会来做牧师。
Who’ll be the person?
I, said the Rook,
With my little book,
I’ll be the parson.
谁来当执事?
是我，云雀说，
只要不在夜晚，
我就会当执事。
Who’ll be the clerk?
I, said the Lark,
If it’s not in the dark,
I’ll be the clerk.
谁来拿火炬?
红雀说，是我，
我立刻把它拿来。
我将会拿火炬。
Who’ll carry the link?
I, said the Linnet,
I’ll fetch it in a minute,
I’ll carry the link.
谁来当主祭?
是我，鸽子说，
我要哀悼挚爱，
我将会当主祭。
Who’ll be chief mourner?
I, said the Dove,
I mourn for my love,
I’ll be chief mourner.
谁来抬棺?
是我，鸢说，
如果不走夜路，
我就会来抬棺。
Who’ll carry the coffin?
I, said the Kite,
If it’s not through the night,
I’ll carry the coffin.
谁来扶棺?
是我们，鹪鹩说，
还有公鸡和母鸡，
我们会来扶棺。
Who’ll bear the pall?
We, said the Wren,
Both the cock and the hen,
We’ll bear the pall.
谁来唱赞美诗?
画眉说，是我，
她站在灌木丛上，
我将唱赞美诗。
Who’ll sing a psalm?
I, said the Thrush,
As she sat on a bush,
I’ll sing a psalm.
谁来敲丧钟?
是我，牛说，
因为我能拉牦。
Who’ll toll the bell?
I, said the Bull,
Because I can pull,
所以，再会了，知更鸟。
空中所有的鸟，
全都叹息哭泣
当他们听见丧钟，
为可怜的知更鸟响起。
So Cock Robin, farewell.
All the birds of the air
Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor Cock Robin.
启事
通告所有关系人，
这则启事通知，
下回鸟儿法庭，
将要审判麻雀。
NOTICE
To all it concerns,
This notice apprises,
The Sparrow’s for trial,
At next bird assizes.
