Rock-a-bye baby

 

Rock-a-bye baby

On the tree-top,

When the sun shines

                          The baby gets hot.                          

When the rain falls

The baby gets wet,

But no one can hear

When baby doth fret.

Rock-a-bye baby

On the tree top

In a snow storm

That seems ne'er to stop.

Icy winds blow

So baby will freeze,

But no one can hear

                                  When baby doth sneeze.                                   

Rock-a-bye baby

On the tree top,

Woodman has come

                     The tree down to chop.                     

When the tree falls

The baby's found dead,

So there's little else

That's left to be said.

Whoe'er put the baby 

                                          Up in the tree                                            

                                             Must have a brain                                              

The size of a pea.

                                          Yet it is true                                            

                                     Had this ne'er been done,                                    

This sweet lullaby

Would ne'er have been sung.

*

The original nursery rhyme (c. 1765) is most known in the following form, although there are other variations and divers theories regarding its origin.

 '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 come baby,
Cradle and all.'
 

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Parody and drawing © Mirino. April, 2014