Hush, Baby, My Dolly Lyrics
A child rocks her doll and promises bread and milk, custard or a tart, anything to stop the crying. A four-line lullaby for pretend play.
Hush, Baby, My Dolly
Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don't cry,
And I'll give you some bread, and some milk by-and-by;
Or perhaps you like custard, or, maybe, a tart,
Then to either you're welcome, with all my heart.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/hush-baby-my-dolly/
- Type
- Lullabies
- Tune
- Sung lullaby
- Best for ages
- 2 to 6 years
What Does Hush, Baby, My Dolly Mean?
The singer is a child playing mother to her doll. She begs the doll not to cry and offers food: bread and milk soon, or perhaps custard or a tart, a small sweet pie. "With all my heart" means she is happy to give it. It is pretend play turned into a song.
History and Origin
The rhyme is printed in The Real Mother Goose (1916) as "Baby Dolly". Children have always copied the lullabies they hear by singing them to their own dolls and toys, and rhymes like this one were written for exactly that game.
Learning Activities
- Doll bedtime: sing it to a doll or teddy and tuck it in.
- Pretend picnic: serve the doll pretend bread, milk and custard.
- Caring talk: talk about how we comfort someone who is upset.