American Old Time Song Lyrics: 54 My Mammys Lullaby

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 54

MY MAMMY'S LULLABY.
Copyright, 1895, by Alb. H. Fits.
Words and Music by Alt. H. Fits.

When I was but a little picaninny,
Down whar' de little niggars grow,
I lived wid my folks in old Virginny,
Dat's whar' I'se happy long ago.
Well do I remember my old mammy,
How she'd take me in her arms when I would cry.
And as she rocked me to And fro den off to sleep I'd go,
While she sang to me dis lullaby:

Chorus.
Rock-a-baby bye, hush, chile, don't you cry,
Mammy's gwine to sing you now to sleep;
Rock yer to and fro, up and down yer go,
Bless my little honey but you'se sweet.

When I see dem little niggars on de levee,
Singing dar and dancing in de sun.
Sometimes my heart would feel so awful heavy,
When I'd think of home and what old mammy done;
I'd gather all de little children 'round me,
Tell 'em stories tote to me in years gone by.
When de bell would ring to go and dat whistle it would blow,
I'd sing to dem dis dear old lullaby:

Chorus.
Close your little eye-hush now, don't yer cry,
Slumber in der shadow of de moon,
While I sing to you, go to sleep, now do,
Mammy's Little curly-headed coon.

When de night was still and de moon a-shinin',
De boat a-workin' down de ribber slow,
It was den de darkies use ter put dere time In,
Singing on de Cotton down below,
Dere I lie and listen, sad and weary,
Thinking of de dear old days gone by.
Now I 'spect it was a dream, for sometimes it would seem
Dat I could hear dis dear old lullaby;- Chorus.