Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird. - Page 2

[beanma]

jeca, i really like your versions (from an adult's perspective). i wonder if anybody has ever done a collection of all the versions...

eta: gotta love wikipedia -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush_Little_Baby

[wildecent]

i've only ever heard it with "papa" perhaps it's a regional thing??

[Jenelle]

Wow, how weird that I came across this tonight. I rarely use the "new posts" button, but here I am vegging out.

I say that it's weird because my 2.5 year old has recently started to LIKE me singing to him (he used to not let me), and he likes to hear new songs, not just the same old ones. So I tried this song the other day, and this is as far as I got:

Hush little baby, don't say a word
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won't sing
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring don't shine...
Mama's gonna have to smack your behind

(Laughing from both of us as I tell him that's not really how it goes, I just made that part up because I don't know the rest.)

So thanks! I am going to print this out and learn it now.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by elelvee

Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

If that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

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

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

Originally Posted by Chaska_Dog

If that billy goat don'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 don'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

That's how I've always heard / sung it.

I've heard it as "mama" and "daddy", but this is the version I sing, with only two small changes:

1) "if that cart and bull rolls over, and

2) "if that horse and cart break down.

I'd guess that a lot of the variants are simply from people trying to remember what their parents sang, and making very slight changes without realizing it. This one seems to be remarkable widespread.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Jenelle

I say that it's weird because my 2.5 year old has recently started to LIKE me singing to him (he used to not let me), and he likes to hear new songs, not just the same old ones.

That's dd. I used to get yelled at whenever I sang to her, but now she wants me to sing all the time. She's currently learning a variety of Christmas songs.

[PiePie]

there is also this completely hilarious manhattan version by garrison keillor. you can find it by googling hush little baby and bagel -- now often are those together? it does not address -- rather amplifies -- the materialism issues of the original. i look forward to getting the sylvia long board book.

[beanma]

here's the new age version -- http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amet...ehushbaby.html