Some time ago, I was told a story, presented as true, that there is a
series of small poems written by Japanese warlords, one of whom was
Tokugawa:
1. If the birds won't sing, I'll try to make them sing.
2. If the birds won't sing, I'll wait for them to sing.
3. If the birds won't sing, I'll kill them.
I don't know if they were written all at once, or over time, if any of
them really was written by Tokugawa, or perhaps they were never really
written and it's just an amusing story.

What I'd like to know:
1. Who were the warlords, and when did they write the poems ?
2. What was the context ?

I've tried some simple web searches and not found anything.

Thanks.

Below you will find a brief excerpt taken from the curriculum of the
course: Japanese History and Culture
University Preparatory Academy 
Seattle, WA

The Period of the Country at War
Sengoku-jidia (1467-1600) 

There were three primary leaders of this movement: Oda Nobunaga
(1534-1582), Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), and Tokugawa Ieyasu
(1543-1616).

?Every Japanese schoolchild learns the following poem that illustrates
the different leadership styles of these leaders: What would you do if
the bird does not sing? Oda Nobunaga said "Kill it if it does not
sing." Toyotomi Hideyoshi said "Make it want to sing." Tokugawa Ieyasu
said "Wait until it sings."

http://www.smith.edu/fcceas/curriculum/grant.htm


===============================================


?When Japan was churning in continuous, contagious arson and killing
among warlords since the 16th century onwards, there were three men
who would lay the foundations for modern Japan today - the first whose
vision of the country is of one nation-state. They were to rule Japan
in succession.

Oda Nobunaga, warlord of the province of Owari, Toyotomi Hideyoshi,
one of his generals, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, the lord of Mikawa,
Nobunaga's junior ally.?

?Their backgrounds were different from each other. Nobunaga was born a
lord and was raised as one, Hideyoshi was an orphan and his late
father was a landless farmer, Ieyasu's pedigree was as noble as
Nobunaga's, but he had been kept as a mobile hostage by the clans
which had defeated his father, since he was only 5 year old. ?

?They said this about the three: if a bird refused to sing, Nobunaga
would have thundered "Kill it!" or without a word cut it to pieces.
Hideyoshi would have said, "We're gonna make it want to sing." Ieyasu
would have waited.?
http://www.geocities.com/rainforestwind/scrapbook3.htm


===============================================


From a Newsletter on philosophy and literature:
 

?I recently saw an excellent documentary on public television about
the history of Japan. It discussed the period when power was
fragmented among numerous samurai. Then three samurai leaders tried to
unify the country ? Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa. Nobunaga was
known for his cruelty, Hideyoshi for his impetuosity, Tokugawa for his
patience. A parable was told about these three leaders: there was a
little bird who wouldn?t sing, and Nobunaga said, ?little bird, if you
won?t sing, I?ll kill you.? Hideyoshi said, ?little bird, if you won?t
sing, I?ll make you sing.? Tokugawa said, ?little bird, if you won?t
sing, I?ll wait for you to sing.? Tokugawa became shogun (leader of
Japan) in 1603, and his dynasty ruled until 1867.?

A Newsletter on Philosophy and Literature 
http://www.ljhammond.com/phlit/2004-05b.htm


===============================================


At the end of the sixteenth century, three dynamic leaders came to
power in Japan. It is said that the three men were gathered in a
garden, when a bird landed on a limb. A zen master asked them what
they would do if the bird did not sing. Oda Nobunaga said 'kill it'.
Tokugawa said 'wait'. Toyotomi Hideyoshi said 'make the bird want to
sing'.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=4770015704&itm=10


===============================================


Here is some information about each leader.

Heroes in the Civil War Era
The period from the War of Onin in 1467 to Nobunaga's entry to Kyoto
in 1568 is called ``the Civil War era'' or ``the Sengoku Era.''


Oda Nobunaga  - The King of Jipang

1534-1582. 

?Nobunaga is arguablly the most potent, the most fierce daimyo in the
era. He started as a daimyo of Owari county, and came to almost unify
Japan. Though, he was betrayed by one of his lieutenants, Akechi
Mitsuhide , and slain at Honjoji temple .
He is described as a demonic figure with no mercy. He did even destroy
Enryakuji temple in Mt. Hiei , one of the religious centers of
Japanese Buddhists. He also suppressed Jodo-shin-shu Buddhism by
force. On the other hand, Nobunaga is known as a very progressive
leader. He found the potency of tanegashima -- muskets early, and use
in battles effectively. He also encouraged trade with European
nations, and Nobunaga himself was a Christian (his christian name was
``Geronimo'').?.

?If a bird doesn't sing, kill it.?
http://www2.kanawa.com/japan/figure7.html#nobunaga


Toyotomi Hideyoshi -  The Man who unified Japan
1536-1598. 

Hideyoshi was the successor of Nobunaga .  He finally unified Japan
and bring the end of the Civil War Era. He was born as a son of
farmer, then became a follower of Nobunaga . After Nobunaga was slain
by Mitshuhide , Hideyoshi killed Mitshuhide , and become a major
candidate for the successor of Nobunaga . Then he buried his rivals
one by one, and he conquered all over Japan at last.

Though he couldn't become a shogun (only descendents of the Genji
could get the title of shogun , and Hideyoshi was not), he managed to
become the regent of the emperor. He built the massive Osaka Castle to
show his power. When all Japan was unified and no enemy could be
found, he wanted to conquer China. But this failed.?

?If a bird doesn't sing, I'll make it to sing.?
 http://www2.kanawa.com/japan/figure7.html#hideyoshi


Tokugawa Ieyasu -  The Shogun

1542-1616. 

?Ieyasu was the successor of Hideyoshi , and the founder of Edo
Shogunate. Presumably he is the most famous shogune in the history.

He was the daimyo of Mikawa county. Mikawa was rather a weak county
and he is not a match for Nobunaga . So he became a follower of
Nobunaga. When Nobunaga was slain by Mitsuhide at Honnouji temple , he
decided not to struggle with Hideyoshi . He didn't dispute about
Hideyoshi 's claim for regency, and kept the position of No.2 in
Japan. When Hideyoshi died from old age in 1598, Ieyasu revealed his
true form of a raptor. He broke Ishida Mitsunari , the successor of
Hidetoshi , at the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, to prove him the
strongest in Japan. He got the title of shogun in 1603, and
established Edo Shogunate in Edo , the city known as Tokyo today.?

?Today Ieyasu is known as a patient, persevering man with an excellent
talent for management. Here is a haiku that tells his temperature very
well (though historians say the haiku was not composed by Ieyasu
himself).

?If a bird doesn't sing, I'll wait until it sings.?
http://www2.kanawa.com/japan/figure7.html#ieyasu


Search criteria:

Tokugawa  birds won't sing
Tokugawa Ieyasu   birds sing


I hope this is helpful. 

Best regards,
Bobbie7

a thorough and complete answer.  thank you.