What do you say? On the treetop or in the treetop?

Question

from "Rock a bye Baby"

Answer 1

Here's what Wikpedia says about the lyrics in the real lullabye:

Rock-a-bye Baby
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Rock-a-bye Baby is an American nursery rhyme, whose melody is a variant of the English satirical ballad Lilliburlero. Originally titled "Hushabye Baby," this nursery rhyme was said to be the first poem written on American soil. Although there is no evidence when the song was written, it may date from the 1600s. It is rumoured that it was written by a young pilgrim who sailed to America on the Mayflower. He was said to have observed the way Native American women rocked their babies in birch bark cradles, which were suspended from the high branches of trees, allowing the wind to rock the baby to sleep. Another source reports that Effie Crockett, a relative of Davy Crockett, wrote the lyrics in 1872 while babysitting a restless child.

The lyrics are:

Rock a bye baby on the treetop,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.
Baby is drowsing cozy and fair
Mother sits near in her rocking chair
Forward and back the cradle she swings
And though baby sleeps he hears what she sings
From the high rooftops down to the sea
No ones' as dear as baby to me
Wee little fingers, eyes wide and bright
Now sound asleep until morning light
Only the words in the first four lines are supposed to be from the Pilgrim boy in America. Lines 5-12 are a later invention.

Answer 2

I think I'd say I'm in the tree but on the treetop, unless I had cut a hole in the treetop and actually climbed inside of it.

Answer 3

I think it is in the treetop, but One the treetop is proper english!!! The baby is ON the treetop not IN it!!!!!

Answer 4

IN the treetop

Answer 5

ON the treetop

Answer 6

in the treetop , you can not stand on top of a tree,unless it's laying down/

Answer 7

"ON" the treetop. Definitely.

Answer 8

Rockabye Baby, in the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
If the bough breaks the cradle will fall
And down will come cradle, baby and all.

Rather a gruesome picture, isn't it? I wonder why we ever sang that to babies as a lullaby.....

Answer 9

in the treetop for sure!!!

Answer 10

That is a good question, I remember it as on the tree top but in would make more sence