Hush, Little Baby is a traditional lullaby. It is thought to be American (mockingbirds are from the American continent), but the author and date of origin are unknown. The lyrics promise all kinds of rewards to the child if he or she is quiet.

The structure is simple enough for parents to ad-lib further verses as required. This song has had the unusual distinction of two separate manifestations as a popular song, first as the song "Bo Diddley" by the singer of that name, and then as "Mockingbird", a well-selling song by the brother-and-sister team, Inez and Charlie Foxx in 1963, and then, for then husband and wife, James Taylor and Carly Simon in 1974, singing the Foxx arrangement. Toby Keith and his teenage daughter Krystal covered the song in 2004.

Contents 1 Lyrics [1] 2 Notable covers, remixes, variations, samples and influences 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Lyrics ^[1]

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,

Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird won't sing,

Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turns to brass,

Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.

And if that looking glass gets broke,

Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.

And if that billy goat won't pull,

Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over,

Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won't bark.

Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,

You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.^[1]

[edit] Notable covers, remixes, variations, samples and influences

Elvis Presley performs a tune called "Puppet On A String" in the 1965 film Girl Happy which heavily borrows from the "Hush, Little Baby" structure. "Puppet On A String" was written by songwriters Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper. The films score is heavily influenced by nursery rhymes and also contains an instrumental version of "Puppet On A String" that is indistinguishable from the lullaby hummed.

Singer James Hetfield recites a variation of "Hush Little Baby" in the 1991 Metallica song "Enter Sandman". In 2005, rapper Eminem adapted "Hush Little Baby" into a song called "Mockingbird" for his daughter. In 2008 Traveler's Dream recorded a counterpoint harmonized duet version of the song in "Home Comes the Rover".

Singer Bobby McFerrin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed a variant of this tune on their 1992 album "Hush".

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Song Lyrics / Hush Little Baby". Grandparents Magazine (TM). http://www.grandparentsmagazine.net/SongLyrics/hush.htm. Retrieved 2009-April 2. "Southern U.S. traditional lullaby" 

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[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hush, Little Baby

• A sing-along version of Hush Little Baby and its illustrated lyrics