☝️ Key Points
- The song is a lullaby used to calm and put children to sleep.
- The lyrics consist of promises from the father to buy various items for the child in order to calm them.
- Each verse introduces a new gift, starting with a 'mockingbird', followed by a golden ring, a mirror, and various other objects.
- If none of these gifts work, the father emphasizes that the child is still the sweetest baby in town.
- The message of the song highlights the father's unconditional love and dedication to their child.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'Hush, Little Baby, Don't You Cry' by
John St. John are a typical lullaby that has a soothing effect on children. It is about the father promising to buy all sorts of things to calm the child and make them fall asleep.
In each verse, a new item is introduced that the father will buy for the child if the previous gift doesn't work or breaks. This starts with a 'mockingbird', a bird known for singing beautiful melodies. If this bird doesn't sing, the father promises to buy a golden ring. If the ring turns to brass, he promises to buy a mirror. And so on with a 'Jumping Jack' (a toy), a velvet cloak, a rocking horse, a cuckoo clock, and a walking cane.
However, if all these things don't work or break, the father assures the child that they are still the sweetest baby in town. This shows the father's unconditional love and dedication to their child, and emphasizes the comforting and loving message of the song.