[WARNING: This song contains antiquated racial stereotypes. It is presented here for historical and educational purposes only.]
A popular song from 1893
Words and music by Joseph W. Wheeler
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:
Lyrics
- De silv’ry moon am shining bright
Hush my birdie, hush my baby
Shut yo’ eyes my heart’s delight
Hush my little coon
Res’ dem little weary feet
Hush my birdie, hush my baby
Rag man’s coming down de street
Hush my little coon
Shut yo’ eyes my curly headed little pickanninny
While de nightengale am singing
In de orange grove
When de robbin twitters
In de cornfield at de daybreak
Run and wake yo’ mammy
My little black faced love
Chorus:
Hush my love, my baby, my honey
Hush my love, my baby, my honey
Shut yo’ eyes my sweet pickanninny
Hush my little coon
- Now rest dat little weary brain
Hush my birdie, hush my baby
Bye bye white man came again
Hush my little coon
Bramberville aint far away
Hush my birdie, hush my baby
Brownies live dare so dey say
Hush my little coon
Close beside her pickanninny’s cradle mammy’s sitting
Watching o’er her baby love, her little octoroon
Weary from de toiling la de field among de cotton
Shut yo’ eyes my baby, oh hush my little coon