You know that moment when your baby won’t settle down at night? Parents have been humming Hush Little Baby for over a century.

This lullaby works like magic. The soft melody and repetitive promises calm even the fussiest babies. Today, families still search for these lyrics online.

Some want to remember the words their grandparents sang. Others need a reliable bedtime song that actually works. Teachers use it in classrooms. Musicians create new versions.

The song has stayed relevant because it speaks to something timeless. Simple words, a soothing tune, and the promise of comfort.

About the Song “Hush Little Baby”

Hush Little Baby has no known author. It comes from the Southern United States, dating back to the late 1800s. Families passed it down by singing it to their children.

The song belongs to the folk music tradition. No copyright exists because it predated such laws. Different regions added their own verses over time.

Joan Baez recorded a version in 1961 that brought wider attention. Carly Simon and James Taylor made a popular duet in 1974. Eminem’s “Mockingbird” also references this lullaby.

Full Lyrics of Hush Little Baby

Here are the complete lyrics to Hush Little Baby. You can read, sing, or share them with your little ones at bedtime.

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

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

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

And if that looking glass is broke,
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat,

And if that billy goat won’t pull,
Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and a bull.

And if that cart and bull turn over,
Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover.

And if that dog named Rover won’t bark,
Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and a cart.

And if that horse and cart fall down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

So hush little baby, don’t you cry.
Daddy loves you, and so do I.

Songs Similar to Hush Little Baby

If you love Hush Little Baby, these lullabies share the same soothing quality. They calm babies and help create a peaceful bedtime routine.

• Rock-a-Bye Baby: Traditional cradle song with a gentle rhythm that rocks babies to sleep.
• Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: Classic bedtime lullaby with a simple melody that children recognize instantly.
• Brahms’ Lullaby: Soft instrumental and vocal versions that create a calm atmosphere for sleeping.
• All the Pretty Little Horses: Folk lullaby with a calming melody rooted in American tradition.
• Golden Slumbers: Gentle lyrical tone suited for sleep, originally from a 17th-century poem.

Artists Similar to Hush Little Baby

Since Hush Little Baby is traditional, many artists have kept this style alive. These musicians focus on lullabies, folk music, and songs for children.

• Raffi
  Genre: Children’s Music, Folk
  Top Album: Singable Songs for the Very Young

• Ella Jenkins
  Genre: Folk, Educational Children’s Music
  Top Album: You’ll Sing a Song, and I’ll Sing a Song

• Elizabeth Mitchell
  Genre: Folk, Lullaby
  Top Album: You Are My Little Bird

• Caspar Babypants
  Genre: Children’s Indie Folk
  Top Album: Here Comes Stompy the Bear

• The Kiboomers
  Genre: Children’s Music
  Top Album: Favorite Nursery Rhymes

Wrapping It Up

Hush Little Baby proves that the best songs never fade away.

This lullaby has comforted babies for generations because it offers something money can’t buy: a parent’s voice promising everything will be okay.

The melody stays simple so that anyone can sing it. The words feel familiar even if you’re hearing them for the first time. That’s why parents still look up these lyrics today.

They want to give their children the same comfort they once received. So go ahead and sing it tonight. Your voice matters more than hitting perfect notes.

Your baby needs to hear you’re there. Which lullaby will you try next?