The lullaby "Rock-a-bye Baby" is perhaps the most famous lullaby throughout all of history. It was originally entitled , "Hush-a-bye Baby." This poem was thought to be written in American dating back to the 1500's.
Did you know that there are two different lyrics for this poem?
1. Rock-a-bye baby on the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will go baby, cradle and all.
2. (Found in Real Mother Goose, 1916)
Rock-a-bye baby, the cradle is green
Father's a nobleman, mothers a queen
And Betty's a lady, and wears a gold ring
And Johnny's a drummer, and drums for the king.
There are three theories has to how it originated .... interested?
1. American- A pilgrim came upon a Native American and saw the way she suspended her baby from a tree in a birch bark cradle. The wind was to sway the cradle thus putting the baby to sleep. However what if the branch broke?
2. English - The poem refers to a family called Kenyon's. Kenyon's had a tree house within a huge yew tree. Kenyan had eight children and had hollowed out one bough to be a cradle for the children. The Yew tree was thought to be at least 2000 years old. It still stands today but has been damaged by vandalism by fire during the 1930's.
and....
3. This theory refers to the baby as King James 11 of England. King James 11 was believed to be a child who was smuggled into the birthing room in order to be recognized as the legitimate heir of James. The wind is referred to as William 111 of England (William of Orange) who disposed of James 11 during the revolution. Finally, the cradle would be the house of Stuart Monarchy.
Enjoy your day and please do not put your child is a bough today for his/her nap.
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