Printed from Cantaria, a folk song archive.
For an audio example of the song being sung, see: http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/riddle-song.html

This example of "The Riddle Song" is performed by Mary Smith
Please refer to Cantaria's Copyright information

This particular version is said to be from the Kentucky Mountains, but a much earlier version is found in a 15th century manuscript. The FJ Child collection has another version as #46, Peri-miri-dictum-Domini.

I gave my love a cherry that has no stone,
I gave my love a chicken that has no bone,
I gave my love a ring that has no end,
I gave my love a baby with no crying.

How can there be a cherry that has no stone?
How can there be a chicken that has no bone?
How can there be a ring that has no end?
How can there be a baby with no crying?

A cherry, when it's blooming, it has no stone,
A chicken when it's pipping, it has no bone,
A ring when it's rolling, it has no end,
A baby when it's sleeping, has no cryin'.