Hush, Little Baby facts for kids

"Hush, Little Baby" is a very old and well-known lullaby. People believe it was first sung in the Southern United States. A lullaby is a soft song sung to help a baby fall asleep. The words of this song promise different gifts to a child if they stay quiet. Because the song has a simple pattern, you can easily add new verses as you sing.

Who Has Sung "Hush, Little Baby"?

Many famous singers and groups have performed and recorded "Hush, Little Baby." Some of these include Joan Baez, Burl Ives, Regina Spektor, Nina Simone, The Weavers, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The song has also been changed into popular songs. For example, Maurice King's "Hambone" and Bo Diddley's song "Bo Diddley" were inspired by it. The song "Mockingbird" by Inez and Charlie Foxx is another famous version. Later, Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma made their own "Hush Little Baby." Even Eminem used parts of it in his song "Mockingbird."

"Mockingbird" in Movies

The song "Mockingbird" is a rhythm and blues (R&B) version of "Hush, Little Baby." Many artists like Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Etta James, Taj Mahal, and Dusty Springfield have recorded it. This song was used in a funny way in the movies National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and Dumb & Dumber (1994). In these movies, it was sung during car trips.

"Hush, Little Baby" in Plays

"Hush, Little Baby" was also used in the play The Miracle Worker. This play tells the story of Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind, and her teacher, Anne Sullivan.

What Are the Lyrics Like?

There are many different versions of "Hush, Little Baby." The song has a simple structure. It uses pairs of lines that rhyme, called couplets. In each couplet, a gift is promised to the baby. Then, in the next couplet, that gift is found to have a problem, and a new gift is offered.

Singers can keep adding new gifts and rhyming lines for as long as they want. Here is an example of some common lines from the song:

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's gonna buy you a Mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird don't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.