Hush-a-bye, Baby, Daddy Is Near Lyrics
Four lines tell the baby to hush because Daddy is near, and Mamma is a lady, which is very clear.
Hush-a-bye, Baby, Daddy Is Near
Hush-a-bye, baby,
Daddy is near;
Mamma is a lady,
And that's very clear.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/hush-a-bye-baby-daddy-is-near/
- Type
- Lullabies
- Tune
- Sung or spoken softly
- Best for ages
- 1 to 4 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Hush-a-bye, baby | Rock a baby or a soft toy in your arms. |
| Daddy is near | Point to someone standing close by. |
| And that's very clear | Open both hands, palms up, and smile. |
What Does Hush-a-bye, Baby, Daddy Is Near Mean?
The rhyme is a short, comforting lullaby. The baby is told to hush, because Daddy is close by. The third and fourth lines are a bit of cheerful nonsense: Mamma is a lady, and that is very clear. They rhyme with each other, which is the point, and they let the singer fit in a little joke before the baby falls asleep.
It is easy to learn after one hearing, and the pairs of lines are simple enough for a child to sing along.
History and Origin
The rhyme is printed in The Little Mother Goose (1912), a picture book of nursery rhymes, and it appears next to the riding rhyme "This is the way the ladies ride". The book names no writer.
It is one of many Hush-a-bye verses in old nursery books, each with different words but the same gentle tone.
Learning Activities
- Rock and hum: sing it softly while rocking a toy to sleep.
- Swap the names: replace Daddy and Mamma with the names of people in your family.
- Quiet time: use it as the last song before bed.
- Lullaby collection: compare it with other Hush-a-bye rhymes on this site.