by Louise-Anne Geddes, Mindful Mum, Updated 24th August 2012

Lullabies help to soothe your baby to sleep. Here is a list of popular lullabies and their lyrics. Most of these lullabies have simple and repetitive melodies which comfort and reassure your baby, helping them to drift off.

Singing a lullaby can become part of your baby’s bedtime routine and help him or her get to sleep. As your baby gets older you might want to adjust the night time routine slightly but you can still include a favourite lullaby. If you are looking for more lively nursery rhymes lyrics with actions see our nursery rhymes and lyrics section.

1. Bye, Baby Bunting
2. Hush Little Baby
3. Rock-a-Bye-Baby
4. Lavender’s Blue
5. Sleep Baby Sleep
6. Silent Night
7. Wynken, Blynken and Nod
8. Wee Willie Winkie
9. Que Sera
10. Ali Bali (Coulter’s Candy)
11. Brahms Lullaby
12. Good Night
13. Rocking Carol
14. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
15. Twinkle Twinkle Milky Bar
16. Frere Jacques (Are you sleeping?)
17. Golden Slumbers
18. All The Pretty Horses
19. Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John
20. Now I lay me down to sleep
21. Star light, star bright
22. Irish Lullaby
23. Stay awake, don’t rest your head
24. The Skye Boat Song (Speed Bonnie Boat)

Bye, baby Bunting

Bye, baby Bunting,
Daddy’s gone a-hunting,
Gone to get a rabbit skin
To wrap the baby Bunting in.

Hush Little Baby

Hush, little baby, don’t say a word.
Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won’t sing,
Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat

And if that billy goat won’t pull,
Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull

And if that cart and bull fall over,
Mama’s gonna buy you a dog called Rover

And if that dog called Rover sit down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

Rock-a-bye Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, in 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
Baby is drowsing, cozy and fair
Mother sits near, in her rocking chair
Forward and back, the cradle she swings
And though baby sleeps, he hears what she sings
From the high rooftops, down to the sea
No one’s as dear, as baby to me
Wee little fingers, eyes wide and bright
Now sound asleep, until morning light.

Lavender’s Blue

Lavenders Blue
Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender’s green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen

Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
‘Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so

Call up your friends, dilly, dilly
Set them to work
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork

Some to the hay, dilly dilly,
Some to thresh corn
Whilst you and I, dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm

Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender’s green
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen

Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
‘Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so.

Silent Night

Many well known Christmas carols were written as lullabies for the baby Jesus, and are used worldwide to soothe infants to the land of nod. Here are the lyrics to Silent Night.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Sleep, baby, sleep
Your father tends the sheep
Your mother shakes the dreamland tree
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee

Sleep Baby Sleep

Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep

Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep
The little lamb is on the green
With snowy fleece so soft and clean

Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep

Wynken, Blynken and Nod

(This is a rhythmic poem rather than a song. There is no tune, but the rhythm of the words works in the same way)

Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew

Where are you going
And what do you wish
The old man asked the three
We’ve come to fish
For the herring fish
That swim in the beautiful sea
Nets of silver and gold have we
Said Wynken, Blynken and Nod

So all night long
Their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinklin’ foam
Then down from the sky
Came the wooden shoe
Bringing the fisherman home

‘Twas oh so pretty
A sail it seemed
As if it could not be
And some folks thought
‘Twas a dream they’d dreamed
Of sailing the beautiful sea
But I shall name you
The fisherman three
Wynken, Blynken and Nod

Wynken and Blynken
Are two little eyes
And Nod is a weary head
And the wooden shoe
That sailed the skies
Is a wee one’s trundle bed
So shut your eyes
While Mommy sings
Of the wonderful sights that be
And you shall see
All the beautiful things
As you rock in that misty sea
Just like the fisherman three
Wynken, Blynken and Nod
Just like the fisherman three
Wynken, Blynken and Nod

Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Tapping at the window and crying through the lock
Are all the children in their beds, it’s past eight o’clock?

Que Sera

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here’s what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

When I was young, I fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will we have rainbows, day after day
Here’s what my sweetheart said.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, what will I be
Will I be handsome, will I be rich
I tell them tenderly.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Ali Bali (Coulter’s Candy)

Ali Bali Ali Bali Bee
Sitting on your Mammy’s knee
Greetin’ for a wee bawbee
To buy some Coulter’s candy

Mammy gi’t me my thrifty doon
Here’s old Coulter coming round
Wi’ his basket on his croon
He’s selling Coulter’s candy

Our wee Jeannie was awfy thin
A wrickle of bones just wrapped in skin
Noo she’s getting a wee double chin
Fae eating Coulter’s candy

Go to sleep now, my bonny wee one
It’s six o’clock and your playing’s done
When you wake up in the morning sun
You’ll get more Coulter’s candy

Translation:
Greetin’ – crying
Bawbee – half penny
Mair – more
Thrifty doon – pocket money

Brahms Lullaby

Lullaby, and good night, with pink roses bedight,
With lilies o’er spread, is my baby’s sweet head.
Lay thee down now, and rest, may thy slumber be blessed!
Lay thee down now, and rest, may thy slumber be blessed!
Lullaby, and good night, your mother’s delight,
Shining angels beside my darling abide.
Soft and warm is your bed, close your eyes and rest your head.
Soft and warm is your bed, close your eyes and rest your head.
Sleepyhead, close your eyes. mother’s right here beside you.
I’ll protect you from harm, you will wake in my arms.
Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.
Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.

Good Night

This was originally written by John Lennon as a lullaby for his son Julian

Now it’s time to say good night
Good night Sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night Sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Close your eyes and I’ll close mine
Good night Sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night Sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Close your eyes and I’ll close mine
Good night Sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night Sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Good night Good night Everybody
Everybody everywhere
Good night.

Rocking Carol

Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir;
We will lend a coat of fur,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you:
See the fur to keep you warm,
Snugly round your tiny form.
Mary’s little baby, sleep, sweetly sleep,
Sleep in comfort, slumber deep;
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you:
We will serve you all we can,
Darling, darling little man.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Or as a fun alternative, try Twinkle, Twinkle Milky Bar below

Twinkle Twinkle Milky Bar

Twinkle, twinkle, milky bar,
My dad drives a rusty car
Push the button, pull the chose,
Off we go, in a puff of smoke!
Twinkle, twinkle, milky bar,
My dad drives a rusty car!

Frere Jacques

Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.

English version
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.

Golden Slumbers

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep,
pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.

Cares you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While over you a watch I’ll keep.
Sleep,
pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.

All the pretty horses

Hush-a-bye don’t you cry,
Go to sleep my, little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Black and bays, dapples grays,
All the pretty little horses.
Hush-a-bye don’t you cry,
Go to sleep my, little baby.
Hush-a-bye don’t you cry,
Go to sleep my, little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.

Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John

Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John,
Went to bed with his trousers on;
One shoe off, and the other shoe on,
Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John

Now I lay me down to sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
thy angels watch me through the night,
And keep me safe till morning’s light

Star light, star bright

Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight

Irish Lullaby

Over In Killarney,
Many years ago,
My Mother sang a song to me
In tones so sweet and low;
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good old Irish way,
And I’d give the world to hear her sing
That song of hers today.

[Chorus]
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now don’t you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That’s an Irish lul-la-by

[Verse 2]
Oft, in dreams I wander
To that cot again.
I feel her arms a-hugging me
As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a humming
To me as in days of yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door.
[Repeat chorus]

Another verse…
Oh I can hear that music
I can hear that song
Filling me with memories
Of a mother’s love so strong
Its melody still haunts me
These many years gone bye
Too ra loo ra loo ral
Until the day I die

Stay Awake (from Mary Poppins)

We love the reverse psychology in this lovely little lullaby from the Disney film, Mary Poppins.

Stay awake, don’t rest your head
Don’t lie down upon your bed
While the moon drifts in the skies
Stay awake, don’t close your eyes

Though the world is fast asleep
Though your pillow’s soft and deep
You’re not sleepy as you seem
Stay awake, don’t nod and dream
Stay awake, don’t nod and dream

The Skye Boat Song (Speed Bonnie Boat)

Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry;
Carry the lad that’s born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.

Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunderclouds rend the air;
Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
Follow they will not dare.
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry;
Carry the lad that’s born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.

Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
Ocean’s a royal bed.
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head.
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry;
Carry the lad that’s born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.

Many’s the lad fought on that day,
Well the claymore could wield,
When the night came, silently lay
Dead in Culloden’s field.
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry;
Carry the lad that’s born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.

Burned are their homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men;
Yet e’er the sword cool in the sheath
Charlie will come again.
Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry;
Carry the lad that’s born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.

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Baby’s don’t keep lullaby also known as ‘Song for a fifth child’ by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton.

Photography: Raul Hernandez Gonzalez @