Rock A By Baby

Rock a by baby is a classic song with a very sweet melody,
despite its cruel ending...
 
According to literature research[1], the original version of this lullaby was probably written in the 17th century.

Immigrants from England saw how native-American women had rocking cradles hanging from tree branches. The blowing wind gently (hopefully!) rocked the babies to sleep.




Rock-a-by-baby,
On 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 ...



[1]The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature by H. Carpenter and M. Prichard, Oxford University Press, 1984