Why do we sing "Rock a bye baby" to lull our little ones to sleep when the song is about putting your baby in a tree and letting the wind crash the cradle to the ground?
2007-05-22 05:59:28 · 21 answers · asked by THE..loser. 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
NO IDEA!!!! I hate that so called "lullaby" and have never sung it to any of my 3 kids.
2007-05-22 06:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by Angie B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found this on www.songfacts.com about the origins of the song and found it interesting:
"Originally titled "Hushabye Baby," this nursery rhyme was said to be the first poem written on American Soil. Although there is no official date in which this song was written, it was said to have been written in the 1500s. It was rumored that this rhyme was written by a young pilgrim who sailed to America on the Mayflower. During this trip, the young passenger was said to have observed the way Native American women rocked their babies in birchbark cradles, which were suspended from the high branches of a tree, allowing the wind to rock the baby to sleep. One source reports that Effie Crockett, a relative of Davy Crockett, wrote the lyrics in 1872 while babysitting a restless child.
Even though this song is supposed to be a lullaby, many say it is a song that's very violent and abusive. Although the melody is sweet and tender, the lyrics are hardly lulling. Though the song starts out sweet and innocent with Rockabye Baby, it quickly turns to disaster with when the bough breaks.
Another legend to the origin of this song states that the lyrics referred to a new prince that had just been born to a King of England. The original lyrics were said to have been written in an English pub, and they meant as sort of a death wish for the new prince, to overthrow the empire. "
So really it doesn't make since to sing it to our babies except that the way it is sung is a soothing melody for babies and has nothing to do with the words since they don't really understand that we are singing about crashing to the ground from the top of a tree. I personally sing the Hush little baby mama's gonna buy you a bunch of stuff song...lol.
2007-05-22 06:12:27 · answer #2 · answered by Christina J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The song was sung by settlers in mocking of Native Americans who would hang cradles from tree branches (only a few inches above the ground) and let the wind rock the baby. The song has become a tradition. You can try singing the second verse if it pleases you:
Rock-A-Bye Baby,
Gently you swing,
Over your cradle mother will sing
Sweet is the lullaby over your nest
That tenderly sings my baby to rest.
And now you know the real story.
2007-05-22 06:09:41 · answer #3 · answered by Momofthreeboys 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One version is that 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. However, the branches holding the cradles steady had a danger of breaking, causing the cradle to fall and the baby in it to get hurt.
Another is that a cradle is a hollowed out tree bough.
The Real Mother Goose published in 1916:
Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green;
Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen;
And Betty's a lady, and wears a gold ring;
And Johnny's a drummer, and drums for the king
2007-05-22 06:43:26 · answer #4 · answered by lisa s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not a clue... Love the tune, hate the song. We even "niced" up the words to "You are My Sunshine" (the original is about someone leaving).
"Ring Around the Rosey" anyone? About the black plague--people kept posies, or flower bouquets in their pockets to mask the stench of death and decay...
London Bridges, Pop Goes the Weasel... Such jolly fun!
Don't stick with our bizarre old "lullabies." Find a special song you love and sing it...
Fom the time I was pregnant with each of my children I sang "Goodnight My Someone, Goodnight My Love" from the Music Man--it just made sense because much like in the song I knew I loved them even though I didn't know them yet.
Best of luck to you!
ADD-ON:
Toopregnant--I'd never heard the background or second verse. Very cool. Thanks!
2007-05-22 06:10:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's meant to be a comic relief for the parent who is rocking the baby to sleep ... the baby is calmed by the singing but doesn't understand the words.
2007-05-22 07:17:26 · answer #6 · answered by twinmom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not so much about the words but the act of singing itself or huming you can sing any words into the same lulaby and the baby is just content to hear your voice, I believe there is a story for that lulaby itself if you do a search on it.
2007-05-22 06:10:19 · answer #7 · answered by lemonstwst 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a horrible song I agree, I never sang it to my daughter as a baby. Now she is toddler it is more like a game to her I sing it loud and rock her back and forth and plop her softly onto pillows and she loves it. But, I don't know why it is such a popular lullaby.
2007-05-22 06:04:39 · answer #8 · answered by serendipity_siren 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Strangely enough, American songs are not the only ones preoccupied with unnecessary violence, sexism, etc.
I think it's subliminal...you are soothing a baby who doesn't yet understand language, trying to take out frustrations on them at the same time. Just a guess.
2007-05-22 06:02:14 · answer #9 · answered by Waiting and Wishing 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When I rocked my brothers and sister to sleep, I used my own words to the old melodies...they varied depending on my mood and my mom got a huge kick out of it.
2007-05-22 06:04:48 · answer #10 · answered by Shanny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always wondered about that myself. If you notice, fairy tales have lots of violence in them too. Take Hansel and Grettel for example. It's bad enough that kids will inevitably be exposed to violence when they grow up a bit. I don't see why we should start the process so early.
2007-05-22 06:06:06 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋