- HubPages»
- Family and Parenting
Common and Popular Lullabies and Lyrics
When I became a mother, there was a lot I didn't know. Most of what I needed to know came pretty naturally, but some I had to learn. Up until that point in my life, I had never really spent much time with babies or kids; my sister had two daughters but we lived on the opposite side of the country from them so we didn't seem them too often.
One thing I had to look up and learn was the lyrics to popular lullabies for babies and other popular songs for children. Heck, I didn't even know all of the words to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star! Maybe I can blame "new mom brain" on that one?
Well, while cleaning out the many document folders on my computer, I came across the file that I created years ago with the lyrics to several songs and lullabies. I thought that maybe there were other new moms out there who need (okay, want) this information like I did all those (almost five) years ago! So here they are...
Twinkle, Twinke Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Hush, Little Baby
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 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 fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town
Brahms lullaby (Lullaby and Goodnight)
Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight
Bright angels beside my darling abide
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast
Brahms (original German version)
Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Naeglein besteckt, schlupf unter die Deck'
Morgen frueh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt
Morgen frueh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt
Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Von Englein bewacht
Die zeigen im Traum, dir Christkindleins Baum
Schlaf nun selig und suess, Schau im Traum's Paradies
Schlaf nun selig und suess, Schau im Traum's Paradies
Rock-A-Bye-Baby
Rock-a-bye baby, in the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all
Golden Slumbers
Golden slumber kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep,
pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I'll sing you a lullaby.
Care you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While I o'er you watch do keep.
Sleep,
pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Little Boy Blue
Little boy blue, come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow, the cows in the corn
Where is the little boy who looks after the sheep?
He's under the haystack, fast asleep
Itsy-Bitsy Spider
The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again
Are You Sleeping (Frere Jacques)
Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
English Version:
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
Clementine
In a cavern, in a canyon
Excavating for a mine
Lived a miner, forty-niner
And his daughter, Clementine
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
Light she was and like a fairy
And her shoes were number nine
Herring boxes without topses
Sandals were for Clementine
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
Drove she ducklings to the water
Every morning just at nine
Hit her foot against a splinter
Fell into the foaming brine
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
Ruby lips above the water
Blowing bubbles soft and fine
But alas, I was no swimmer
So I lost my Clementine
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, my darling Clementine
You are lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
How I missed her! How I missed her,
How I missed my Clementine,
But I kissed her little sister,
I forgot my Clementine.
Oh my darling, oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Clementine!
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine
*I must say that I was quite disturbed at how morbid that last one's (Clementine) lyrics are - it's a good thing that the babies and toddlers that we sing these to don't really understand it!
Comments
@lovelypaper my dad used to sing that song to me as a child. I can't seem to find it anywhere. I remember it this way...
Go to sleep my little baby,
Don't you cry my little darling,
When you wake we'll patty-patty cake,
And ride the tiny little pony.
I would love to know if there were more to it or of its origins.
- Author
Thanks!
My children are older now, but I used to sing all of these to them. I agree about many of the lyrics being morbid. The one that always got to me was "Rock-a-Bye Baby"--when the cradle falls! My oldest daughter loved "There's a Hole in My Bucket". Playing it over and over and over was the only way she would stay in her carseat for long car rides :)
Enjoyed the memories! Voted up!
My mom used to sing these to me! thanks for the memories!
Thank you for this hub. Some of the lyrics I knew and some I didn't. My daughter's favorite is Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
- Author
Hi, Jen - isn't that called "Mom brain"??? ;-)
Thanks for sharing Lily. I am absolutely horrible at remember the lyrics to even songs that I love!
- Author
Thanks for all the comments.
@ Lovelypaper - never heard that one, but sounds nice.
@ Ms Chievous - that's sooo cute! I love it when my daughters sing to me and they use words that are not even words because they repeat the sound they "hear" in the song - it's adorable and hilarious!
@ Hello, hello - SMART change to that one! I've been quite shocked at several lullaby lyrics - what were they thinking?! Actually, I read somewhere a while ago that many songs we know now as lullabies were not meant to be lullabies when first written; I guess that would explain it!
Thank you for your lovely hub. It is a bit morbid and was surprised. The same as the German lullaby - morgen frueh when God will wirst du wieder geweckt - I changed to - schlafe selig und suess schau ins Draum Paradies - The first bit means - tomorrow morning if God wants to he wakes you - and mine version was - sleep peaceful and sweet and look into the dream paradise -
Aww what a great idea for a hub! My son sings to me his own version of rock a bye baby. He starts out " rock a bye baby in the sweet trees" I love it!
Very nice. My mom used to sing one that went: Go to sleepy little baby - and when you wake, we'll patty-patty cake, and ride the tiny little pony. I don't know if this is a common lullaby.
- Author
Glad I could help, BPop! I wish I had come across a comprehensive list like this when I was searching, that's why I published this...maybe other new moms will find it!
Dear Lily Rose,
Thanks so much for this terrific hub. I only know the beginning of these songs and the rest I just make up! Now, I can print this and use it as a guide.
13