A Southern Lullaby

Little honey baby, shet yo' eyes up tight; -

(Shadow-man is comin' from de moon!) -

You's as sweet as roses if dey is so pink an white;

(Shadow-man '11 get here mighty soon.)

Little honey baby, keep yo' footses still! -

(Rocky-bye, oh, rocky, rocky-bye!)

Hush yo' now, an listen to dat lonesome whippo'-will;

Don't yo' fix yo' lip an start to cry.

Little honey baby, stop dat winkin' quick!;

(Hear de hoot-owl in de cotton-wood!)

Yess - I sees yo' eyes adoin' dat dere triflin' trick -

(He gets chillun if dey isn't good.)

Little honey baby, what yo' think yo' see? -

(Sister keep on climbin' to de sky - )

Dat's a June bug - it aint got no stinger, lak a bee -

(Reach de glory city by an by.)

Little honey baby, what yo' skeery at? -

(Go down, Moses - down to Phar-e-oh,) -

No - dat isn't nuffin but a furry fly-round bat; -

(Say, he'd betta let dose people go.)

Little honey baby, yo' is all ma own, -

Deed yo' is. - Yes, - dat's a fia-fly; -

If I didn't hab yo' - reckon I'd be all alone;

(Rocky-bye - oh, rocky, rocky-bye.)

Little honey baby, shet yo' eyes up tight; -

(Shadow man is comin' from de moon,)

You's as sweet as roses, if dey is so pink and white;

(Shadow-man '11 get here mighty soon.)

The lines in brackets are supposed to be sung or chanted.

The Southern "Mammy" seldom sang a song through, but interladed it with comments. - V.S.