Nursery Rhyme & Lullaby Lyrics > Rock-a-Bye Baby Lyrics

Rock-a-Bye Baby Lyrics

The lyrics to the nursery rhyme 'Rock-a-Bye Baby,' otherwise known as 'Hush-a-Bye Baby,' stem from the Native American practice of hanging babies in tree limbs to let the wind rock them to sleep. The song was first published in 1765.

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.