Hush Your Mouth
Bo Diddley Lyrics


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Oh (hush your mouth!)
Oh (hush your mouth!)

Hey little baby don't you cry,
Mama gonna drop around,
Hey little baby don't say a word,
Mama gonna whoop you 'bout somethin' you heard.
Oh (hush your mouth!)
Oh (hush your mouth!)

Mama gonna buy you a diamond ring,
If that diamond ring's brass,
Mama gonna buy a lookin' glass,
If that lookin' glass is broke,
Mama gonna buy a horse and coach,
If that horse and coach turn over,
Mama gonna buy you a dog named rover.

Oh (hush your mouth!)
Oh (hush your mouth!)
Oh (hush your mouth!)
Oh (hush your mouth!)

A coonskin alligator hide,
Make into shoes baby, jus' like mine,
Don't be scared to put 'em on your feet,
Scared 'bout me, jus' can't be beat.





Hush your mouth!
Hush your mouth!

Overall Meaning

The song "Hush Your Mouth" by Bo Diddley is a traditional African American song that has a call and response structure. The lyrics are about a mother who is warning her child not to speak certain things that she might have heard. The repeated line "Hush your mouth" is a reminder for the child to remain silent and obey. The mother promises to buy her child a diamond ring or a looking glass, but also threatens to whoop them if they speak out of turn. The last verse of the song speaks about the mother buying her child coonskin alligator hide shoes just like hers, and encourages the child to wear them without fear.


The song is believed to be inspired by a traditional lullaby format in African American culture where the mother would sing to her child to soothe them to sleep. However, in "Hush Your Mouth", the lyrics are structured more like a warning than a lullaby. The lyrics can be interpreted as a representation of the African American experience where children were often raised in environments where they had to be careful about what they said or did in public, for fear of being punished or discriminated against.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh (hush your mouth!)
Stop talking or making noise!


Hey little baby don't you cry, Mama gonna drop around, Hey little baby don't say a word, Mama gonna whoop you 'bout somethin' you heard.
Don't cry, Mama will come soon. Don't talk, or Mama will scold you for repeating things you shouldn't have heard.


Mama gonna buy you a diamond ring, If that diamond ring's brass, Mama gonna buy a lookin' glass, If that lookin' glass is broke, Mama gonna buy a horse and coach, If that horse and coach turn over, Mama gonna buy you a dog named rover.
Mama promises to buy you nice things, but if they're not what they seem or break, she will buy you something else that may bring other problems.


A coonskin alligator hide, Make into shoes baby, jus' like mine, Don't be scared to put 'em on your feet, Scared 'bout me, jus' can't be beat.
Mama made shoes for you from an interesting animal. Don't be afraid to wear them because they make you like Mama, who you shouldn't mess with.


Hush your mouth!
Stop talking or making noise!




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: E. MCDANIEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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