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"Hush, little baby" is an American lullaby - that is, a folk song designed to help children fall asleep.
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.
Lyrics
A popular variant goes:
- Hush, little baby, don't say a word
- Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird
- If that mockingbird don't sing
- Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
- If that diamond ring turns brass,
- Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
- If that looking glass gets broke
- Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat
- If that billy goat won't pull,
- Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull
- If that cart and bull turn over,
- Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover
- If that dog named Rover won't bark,
- Papa'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.
Second Verse
- Hush little baby mama's near,
- To wipe your brow 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,
- And Jack and Jill and wonderful things.
- So snuggle up and hug 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.
Adaptations
Some say mamma and other say papa
The folksong 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 entiteled "The Mockingbird Song" for Katie Meluas album Call off the Search.
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