Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brickman enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Music taking courses in composition and performance, while taking business classes at Case Western Reserve University. His music career started when he was nineteen, when Jim Henson hired him to write tunes for Sesame Street. He was also hired to write commercial jingles while in college.
Brickman writes a wide variety of music. Besides his piano compositions and love songs, he has also created arrangements of other songs. Several of his albums feature arrangements of children's music; he has produced two Christmas-themed albums The Gift (1997) and Peace (2003); and his 2005 album Grace concentrates on arrangements of well-known Christian music.
Jim Brickman has also starred in the now-on-DVD PBS specials "My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman", "Love Songs & Lullabies" and "The Disney Songbook." In 2006, he sponsored his first Jim Brickman Valentine's Day Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines which has become an annual event.
Hush Li'l Baby
Jim Brickman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mamma's gonna buy you a mocking bird
And if that mocking bird don't sing
Mamma's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turned brass
Mummy's gonna buy you a little looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke
And if that Billy goat won't pull
Mamma's gonna buy you, she'll buy you a cart and a bull
Hush li'l baby, hush li'l baby
Hush li'l baby, don't you cry
And what if that cart and bull turns over?
Then mamma's gonna buy you, she'll buy you a doggie named Rover
And if that doggie named Rover don't bark
Mamma's gonna buy you a horse, a horse and a cart
And if that horse and that cart fall down
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town
Hush li'l baby, hush li'l baby
Hush li'l baby, don't you cry
The lyrics of Jim Brickman's song Hush Li'l Baby is a lullaby that is simple and has an easy-to-remember melody. In every stanza of the song, the mother promises to buy the baby a gift if the previous gift doesn't meet their expectations. The mother promises to buy a mockingbird for the baby, and if it doesn't sing, she will buy a diamond ring. If the diamond ring turns to brass, she promises to buy the baby a little looking glass, which if broken, she will buy a Billy goat. If the Billy goat won't pull, she will buy a cart and a bull. If the cart and bull turn over, she will buy a dog named Rover, and if Rover doesn't bark, she will get the baby a horse and a cart.
The lyrics suggest that the mother will go through any lengths to make the baby happy and content if the previous gift fails to satisfy him/her. The song is a symbol of a mother's unconditional love and care for her child. It is a common lullaby that parents sing to their children with the same hope as the mother in the song, that their child will grow up happy and content.
Line by Line Meaning
Hush my li'l baby, don't say a word
Be still, my sweet child, and do not make a sound
Mamma's gonna buy you a mocking bird
I will purchase for you a bird that can mimic sounds
And if that mocking bird don't sing
If that bird does not make any noise
Mamma's gonna buy you a diamond ring
I will buy you a precious ring with a dazzling gem
And if that diamond ring turned brass
Even if that magnificent ring becomes less valuable
Mummy's gonna buy you a little looking glass
I will buy you a small mirror to look at yourself
And if that looking glass gets broke
If the mirror accidentally gets shattered
Mamma's gonna buy you a Billy goat
I'll purchase a billy goat for you to play with and enjoy
And if that Billy goat won't pull
If the goat does not cooperate in any activity we plan
Mamma's gonna buy you, she'll buy you a cart and a bull
I will buy you a cart and a strong bull to help you with your chores
And what if that cart and bull turns over?
If the cart and bull collapse or tip over
Then mamma's gonna buy you, she'll buy you a doggie named Rover
I'll cheer you up by getting you a cute dog named Rover
And if that doggie named Rover don't bark
If Rover doesn't make any sound or noise
Mamma's gonna buy you a horse, a horse and a cart
I will purchase a horse with a cart for you to ride in
And if that horse and that cart fall down
Even if the horse and carriage tumble to the ground
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town
You will always be a darling and lovable child in our community
Hush li'l baby, hush li'l baby
Be quiet, my dear little one
Hush li'l baby, don't you cry
Don't shed a tear, my precious baby
Contributed by Dominic G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@outlastlove
this used to put me to sleep as a teenager. I would imagine myself holding a child of my own. Now I'm over 30 with my own and I just used this very song to put my daughter to sleep..Boom
@leroyanderson2843
I love Brinkman's music even when singers are brought in. I still listen to the music and my musical ear hears the singing, I am into all of it as whole but for me, I connect with the music first. I've heard other songs too but admit Destiny is the only CD I own.
@jeanweigel8519
Precious Moment's... In The Time's of Life...
@catherinejoyvictorio582
Fave