Song Video
Information About Rock a Bye, Baby
"Rock a Bye Baby" is an old English lullaby and sometimes referred to as "Hushabye Baby"; the melody for which, is a variant on the English satirical ballad 'Lilliburlerois' by Henry Purcell.
The first record of the words, bearing a strong resemblance to those used today, was in 'Mother Goose's Melody' possibly published by John Newbery around 1765.
There are a number of theories regarding the origin of the words to the song. Some believe it to be the first ever nursery rhyme to be written on American soil.
Another theory suggests it was written during the time of Oliver Cromwell; a critique of the king and his family "in disguise". The tree symbolizing the state, the tree top the king. The wind is the wind of change; the revolution, and the breaking bough refers to the goal of the revolution: to remove the reign.
On April 18, 1880, an intense tornado measuring F4 on the Fujita scale struck Marshfield. Its damage path was 800 yards (730 m) wide and 64 miles (103 km) long. The tornado killed 99 people and injured 100, and it is said that 10% of Marshfield's residents were killed and all but 15 of its buildings were destroyed. According to Ripley's Believe It or Not!, a baby girl was found sleeping peacefully in the branches of a tall elm. This is believed to be the origin of the children's lullaby "Rock A Bye Baby". The child was never identified and was later adopted by a local family.
For further information about the origin of the song "Rock a Bye Baby". Take a look at Wikipedia.
Alternative Lyrics & Related Songs
An alternate (and less disturbing!) ending to the song is:
"And momma will catch you cradle and all".
Different words to sing to your baby
Baby is drowsy,
Cozy and fair
His mother sits
In her rocking chair
Forward and back
The baby she swings
And though baby sleeps
He hears what she sings.
From the high rooftops,
Down to the sea
No one's as dear
As baby to me
Wee little hands,
Eyes shiny and bright
Now sound asleep
Until morning light.
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.
A longer version goes like this
Rock a bye baby
Thy cradle is green
Fathers a nobleman
Mothers queen
And Betty's a lady
Who wears a gold ring
And Johny's a drummer
Who drums for the king.
Here's another extended version
Rock a bye baby, on the tree top
When the wind blows the cradle will rock
When the bow brakes the cradle will fall
And down will go baby cradle and all.
You're cradle is green your momma is queen
And your daddy is king.
Sisters a lady that wears a gold ring.
Brother a drummer that plays for the king.
Up and down the hill your cradle will rock
But don't worry baby because mamma is nay
And no baby's will fall no not today.
Here's A Short and Sweet Version
Rock a bye baby on the tree top
When the wind blows the cradle will rock
And baby birds sing a sweet song
So baby sleeps all the night long.
The shortest version we've ever found
Hush a bye daddy asleep on the beach
When the tide comes in then daddy will screech
When daddy screeches we will give him a hand to dig poor old daddy out of the sand.
One more extra verse
Rock a bye Rock a bye nothing to fear
Rock a bye rock a bye mommy is near.
Rock a bye Baby rock a bye
Dear angels in Heaven will watch over thee
Rock a bye baby rock a bye dear.
There really is a lot of different verses to this song!
Rock a Bye
Rock a Bye
Rock a Bye my Baby
Rock a Bye
Rock a Bye
Rock a Bye my Baby
Repeat 3 times