Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army and became a major star of CBS Radio. In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". Ives was also a popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s. His film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as the role of Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ives is often associated with the Christmas season. He did voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives also worked on the special's soundtrack, including the songs "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", both of which continue to chart annually on the Billboard holiday charts into the 2020s.
Hush Little Baby
Burl Ives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town
The lyrics of Burl Ives's song "Hush Little Baby" are a lullaby that features a father promising his child a series of gifts to ensure a peaceful slumber. The father promises to buy his child a mockingbird, and if it doesn't sing, he then promises a diamond ring. If the diamond ring fails to impress, then he promises a looking glass. However, if the looking glass is broken, he'll buy a billy goat - and if the billy goat won't pull the cart, he will buy a cart and bull. Nevertheless, regardless of how it may all turn out, the father promises that his baby will still be the sweetest in town.
One interpretation of these lyrics is that they might represent a father's promise to his child to always protect and care for them, regardless of circumstances. The father is striving to meet his child's every need and desire, and he assures the child that no matter what happens, they will still be loved and cherished. As the song moves towards its end, it becomes clear that the father's promises are not just about material goods, but about the enduring and unbreakable bond of love between a parent and a child.
Line by Line Meaning
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Please don't cry or make any noise. You need to sleep or rest.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird
I promise to give you a nice gift, like a pet bird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
But in case this gift doesn't meet your expectation and doesn't perform as you want.
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
I'll buy you something else more precious, like a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
If by chance, even that gift loses its worth or value.
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
I'll try my best to bring another gift, like a mirror.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
But if that gift also fails to stay useful, probably because of an accident.
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat
I still won't give up, and bring you a billy goat as a new gift.
And if that billy goat won't pull,
In the rare case that the goat fails to impress you and not meet your expectation.
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull
Then, I'll bring you a cart and bull in apology.
And if that cart and bull fall down,
Finally, even this precious gift fails to meet my promises and doesn't make you happy.
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town
But, regardless of what happens, you are still the most special and valuable thing in my life.
Writer(s): Burl Ives
Contributed by Camden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.