> Tim Hart and Friends > Songs > Hush Little Baby

Hush Little Baby / The Mocking Bird

[ Roud 470 ; Ballad Index SBoA164 ; SayDarlingSay at Old Songs ; VWML CJS2/10/4775 , CJS2/9/3315 ; trad.]

Cecil Sharp collected The Mocking Bird from Lucy Cannady of Endicott, Virginia, on 23 August 1918 and from Julie Boone of Micaville, North Carolina, on 8 October 1918.

Jean Ritchie sang Hush Little Baby in 1952 on her Elektra album Singing the Traditional Songs of Her Traditional Kentucky Mountain Family. Edward Tatnall Canby wrote in the sleeve notes:

A charming cradle song with its “ifs” and unexpected conclusion, universally known in the U.S. A mountain version of this is unaccountably sassy in a fast banjo tempo. This one is surely best for baby.

Sandy and Caroline Paton recorded Hush Little Baby in 1960 as the title track of their Topic EP of American songs and ballads sung as lullabies, Hush Little Baby. The liner notes commented:

It is not clear whether this favourite Southern lullaby is of White or Negro creation. Cecil Sharp collected versions of it from mountain women in North Carolina and Virginia with melodies that are unmistakably European in origin. This version sung by the Patons is one that has become widely known since it was recorded for the Library of Congress archive from a Negress, Annie Brewer, of Montgomery, Alabama, in 1937. The song easily leads to endless improvisation, and any mother worth her milk can keep going with rhymes on and on as long as the baby can stand it.

Tim Hart sang Hush Little Baby in 1983 on Tim Hart and Friends' album Drunken Sailor and Other Kids Songs. This track was later included on their compilation CD Favourite Nursery Rhymes and Other Children's Songs.

Judy Dunloy sang Hush Little Baby in 1999 on her CD My Arms Are a Cradle.

Jess Arrowsmith, Jon Boden and Fay Hield sang Hush Little Baby in 2010 on Jess and Richard Arrowsmith's CD of nursery songs, rhymes and lullabies, Off We Go!

Lyrics

Julie Boone sings The Mocking Bird

Hush up, baby, don't say a word,
Papa's going to buy you a mocking bird

If it can't whistle and it can't sing,
Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring.

If that diamond ring turns to brass,
Papa's going to buy you a looking-glass.

If that looking-glass gets broke,
Papa's going to buy you a billy-goat.

If that billy-goat runs away,
Papa's going to buy you another to-day.

Jess Arrowsmith sings The Mocking Bird

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.

If that diamond ring turns to brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking-glass.

If that looking-glass gets broke,
Mama's gonna buy you a billy-goat.

If if that billy-goat won't pull,
Mama's gonna buy you a cart and bull.

If that cart and bull falls 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 falls down,
You'll still be the prettiest little baby in town.