Rockabye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
Al Jolson & Bing Crosby Lyrics
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When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie.
Just place my cradle, mammy mine,
Right on the Mason Dixon line,
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya.
Weep no more, my lady.
Soft and low, just as though
You had me on your knee.
A million baby kisses I'd deliver,
If you would only sing that Swanee River.
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody
These lyrics from Al Jolson and Bing Crosby's "Rockabye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" evoke images of a lullaby being sung to a baby. The lyrics encourage the singer to croon a tune from the heart of Dixie, the southern United States, as they place the cradle on the Mason Dixon line, the border between the southern and northern states. They then suggest swinging the cradle from Virginia to Tennessee with all the love that's in them. The song is a call to comfort and soothe, to sing softly and low, just as though the baby were on their knee. The chorus encourages the singing to continue, suggesting that the singer would deliver a million baby kisses if only they would sing that Swanee River, a reference to a famous song from the early 20th century.
Line by Line Meaning
Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody.
Sing a lullaby to your baby with a tune that represents the South.
When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie.
Sing a song that is true to the roots and sentiment of the South.
Just place my cradle, mammy mine,
As my caring mother, put my bed in a tranquil and comfortable spot, my dear.
Right on the Mason Dixon line,
Put it on the boundary line that separates the North and South.
And swing it from Virginia
Rock it back and forth, starting from Virginia.
To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya.
Rock it all the way to Tennessee, showing all the love and tenderness in you.
Weep no more, my lady.
Do not shed tears anymore, my dear lady.
Sing that song again for me.
Please sing that tune one more time for me.
Soft and low, just as though
Sing it gently and tenderly, as if you were holding me on your lap.
You had me on your knee.
As if I were a child sitting on your knee.
A million baby kisses I'd deliver,
I would give you countless loving kisses.
If you would only sing that Swanee River.
If only you would sing that song called 'Swanee River.'
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody.
Sing a lullaby to your baby with a tune that represents the South.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEAN SCHWARTZ, JOE YOUNG, SAM M. LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hell's ride Schilling
Mammy mine, your little rolling stone that rolled away, rolled away
Mammy mine, your little rolling stone is home today, there to stay!
I want to see your smiling face, smile a welcome smile
I want to feel your fond embrace, listen, Mammy mine!
Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just Hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya
Weep no more, Weep no more my lady
Mammy, sing it again for me
And "Old Black Joe"
Just as though
You had me on your knee
A million baby kisses I'll deliver
If you will only sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody
Rock-a-bye
Rock your little baby
With a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a little tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya
Mammy, mammy listen to what they're playing
They're playing Weep No More My Lady
Sing it again for me
And you remember, remember " Old Black Joe"
God love you Mammy, you sang when I was on your knee
A million baby kisses -- [kissing sounds] -- I'll deliver
Mammy sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody!
guyonearth
Jolson had a powerful voice. He performed mostly in the pre-amplifier era, and it's probably incomprehensible to modern audiences that many singers at this time performed in theaters like this without microphones or a PA system. His voice could fill a music hall.
JudgeJulieLit
Too that may explain the popularity of Ethel Merman, whose voice I find too strident.
George Penwell
@JudgeJulieLit:
Loved Jolson, Merman always annoyed me. Not just because of her singing voice but because her overall persona, (and speaking voice, too) seemed crass to me.
Lucinio Roldan
J
Douglas Schneider
He also sang with just 1 lung in his later career. Amazing!
Tommy. Bee. .
Tony Bennett . " I will show you how they did it in old days.." He belted it out..
I saw him twice in a Theater built 1928 .Ohio..
Helen Wietlisbach
This performance is timeless. I am to young to have had the opportunity to experience vaudeville. This shows me how wonderderfull it must have been.
JakeeeWareee
Greatest entertainer ever, no more tobe to said . What a voice !!!!!!!!!
Mark Kniff
Al Jolson was, AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINER!!!
Hell's ride Schilling
Mammy mine, your little rolling stone that rolled away, rolled away
Mammy mine, your little rolling stone is home today, there to stay!
I want to see your smiling face, smile a welcome smile
I want to feel your fond embrace, listen, Mammy mine!
Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just Hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya
Weep no more, Weep no more my lady
Mammy, sing it again for me
And "Old Black Joe"
Just as though
You had me on your knee
A million baby kisses I'll deliver
If you will only sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody
Rock-a-bye
Rock your little baby
With a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a little tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just hang that cradle mammy mine
Right on that Mason-Dixon line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the soul that's in ya
Mammy, mammy listen to what they're playing
They're playing Weep No More My Lady
Sing it again for me
And you remember, remember " Old Black Joe"
God love you Mammy, you sang when I was on your knee
A million baby kisses -- [kissing sounds] -- I'll deliver
Mammy sing that Swanee River
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye baby with a Dixie melody!