Lyrics:
Hush-a-bye, ma baby, slumber-time is coming soon
Rest yo’ head upon ma breast while Mammy hums a tune
The sandman is callin’ where shadows are fallin’,
While the soft breezes sigh as in days long gone by.
Way down in Missouri where I heard this melody,
When I was a Pick-a-ninny on ma Mammy’s knee
The darkies were hummin,’ Their banjos were strummin’
So sweet and low.
Strum, strum, strum, strum, strum,
Seems I hear those banjos playin’ once again,
Hum, hum, hum, hum, hum,
That same old plaintive strain.
Hear that mournful melody,
It just haunts you the whole day long,
And you wander in dreams back to Dixie, it seems,
When you hear that old time song.
Hush-a-bye, ma baby, go to sleep on Mammy’s knee,
Journey back to Dixieland in dreams again with me;
It seems like yo’ Mammy was there once again,
And the darkies were strummin’ that same old refrain.
Way down in Missouri where I learned this lullaby,
When the stars were blinkin’ and the moon was climbin’ high,
And I hear Mammy Cloe, as in days long ago
Singin’ hush-a-bye.
