Hush Little Baby
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"Hush Little Baby" is a British lullaby - that is, a folk song designed to help children fall asleep.
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[edit] Authorship
As with most folk songs, the original author is unknown, and many variations of the lyrics exist, including some that have been incorporated into copyrighted songs.[citation needed]
[edit] Lyrics
A popular variant goes:
- Hush, little baby, don't say a word
- Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
- If that mockingbird don't sing
- Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
- If that diamond ring turns brass,
- Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
- If that looking glass gets broke
- Mama's gonna buy you a billy goat
- If that billy goat won't pull,
- Mama's gonna buy you a cart and bull
- If that cart and bull turn over,
- Mama's gonna buy you a dog named Rover
- If that dog named Rover won't bark,
- Mama's gonna buy you a horse and cart
- If that horse and cart fall down,
- You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
[edit] Secondary verses
Sometimes there would be a lovers version.
- Hush little baby; mama's near,
- To brush your hair and calm your fears.
- To kiss your cheek and hold your hand,
- 'Til you drift off to sleepyland.
- To help you count those little white sheep,
- And sing you songs 'til you're asleep.
- To tell you tales of kings and queens,
- of Jack and Jill and wonderful things.
- So snuggle up and hold me tight,
- And dream sweet dreams all through the night.
- And every night when the sun goes down,
- You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Another popular version is shorter, being only one verse.
- Hush little baby, don't you cry
- Within your dreams, you can touch the sky
- With you in my arms, I feel whole
- Because you are, my heart and my soul
Another version is significantly longer and more difficult to memorize for quick lullaby singing:
- Hush, little baby, don't say a word
- Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird
- And if that mocking bird won't sing
- Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
- And if that diamond ring is brass
- Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
- And if that looking glass gets broke
- Mama's gonna buy you a nanny goat
- And if that goat won't give no milk
- Mama's gonna buy you a robe of silk
- And if that robe of silk gets worn
- Mama's gonna buy you a big French horn
- And if that big French horn won't play
- Mama's gonna buy you a candy cane
- And if that cane should lose its stripes
- Mama's gonna buy you a set of pipes
- And if that set of pipes ain't clean
- Mama's gonna buy you a jumping bean
- And if that jumping bean won't roll
- Mama's gonna buy you a lump of coal
- And if that lump of coal won't burn
- Mama's gonna buy you a butter churn
- And if that butter turns out sour
- Mama's gonna buy you an orchid flower
- And if that flower don't smell sweet
- Mama's gonna buy you some salted meat
- And if that salted meat won't fry
- Mama's gonna buy you an apple pie
- And when that pie's all gone
- Mama's gonna buy you another one
- And when that pie's all eaten up
- Mama's gonna buy you a greyhound pup
- And if that pup won't run the course
- Mama's gonna buy you a rocking horse
- And if that rocking horse won't rock
- Mama's gonna buy you a cuckoo clock
- And when that cuckoo clock winds down
- You'll still be the cutest little baby in town.
[edit] Adaptations
Some say mamma and other say papa
The folk song was reworked by Bo Diddley into a classic rock and roll song, also called "Bo Diddley":
- Bo Diddley bought his babe a diamond ring,
- If that diamond ring don't shine,
- He gonna take it to a private eye,
- If that private eye can't see
- He'd better not take the ring from me.
This version was later covered by Buddy Holly.
The song has also been adapted by, among others, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Eminem in his track "Mockingbird", the band Streetlight Manifesto in their song "Point/Counterpoint" and Metallica in their song "Enter Sandman;" Mike Batt wrote a track titled "The Mockingbird Song" for Katie Meluas album "Call off the Search," and Bobby McFerrin included a version in his album "Hush."
