Rock-A-Bye Our Baby With a Dixie Melody
Judy Garland Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mammy mine
Your little rollin' stone that rolled away
Strolled away
Mammy mine
Your rollin' stone is rollin' home today
There to stay
Just to see your smilin' face
Smile a welcome sign
When I'm in 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 my cradle, Mammy mine
Right on that Mason Dixon Line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya
"Weep No More My Lady," sing that song again for me
And "Old Black Joe" just as though you had me on your knee
A million baby kisses I'll deliver
The minute that you sing "The Swanee River"
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye-baby with a Dixie melody

Any time
I hear a mammy sing her babe to sleep
Slumber deep
That's the time
The shadows 'round my heart begin to creep
And I weep
Wonder why I went away
What a fool I've been
Take me back to yesterday
In your arms again




Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie
Just hang my cradle, Mammy mine
Right on that Mason Dixon Line
And swing it from Virginia
To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya
"Weep No More My Lady," sing that song again for me
And "Old Black Joe" just as though you had me on your knee
A million baby kisses I'll deliver
The minute that you sing "The Swanee River"
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye-baby with a Dixie melody

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Rock-A-Bye Our Baby With a Dixie Melody" are a heartfelt plea by a son to his mother to welcome him back home. The son had wandered away, but his heart is now filled with regret for having left his mother and wants to come back home. The metaphor of him being a "rollin' stone" that is "rollin' home today" is used to convey his desire to settle back home. The son longs for his mother's embrace and her smile that serves as a "welcome sign." He implores his mother to take him back in her arms as she sings him to sleep, yearning for the reassurance, comfort, and love that only a mother can provide.


Line by Line Meaning

Mammy mine
Addressing the singer's mother, who is also referred to as a mammy.


Your little rollin' stone that rolled away
Referring to the singer herself as a person who left home, like a rolling stone.


Strolled away
Left home casually or without a clear destination.


Mammy mine
Repeating the mother's address to reinforce the sense of longing and nostalgia.


Your rollin' stone is rollin' home today
The singer is coming home after a long absence and a wandering life.


There to stay
Intending to settle down and stay in one place for a while.


Just to see your smilin' face
The main reason for returning home is to see the mother's happy expression.


Smile a welcome sign
The mother's smile is a sign of welcome and acceptance.


When I'm in your fond embrace
The singer is looking forward to being hugged and held by the mother in a loving way.


Listen, Mammy mine
The singer wants the mother to pay attention and listen to what she has to say or sing.


Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody
Invoking a lullaby and a musical style associated with the Southern US and African-American culture.


When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie
Encouraging the mother to sing from the soul and share her cultural heritage through music.


Just hang my cradle, Mammy mine
Asking the mother to provide a safe and comfortable place for the singer to rest and sleep.


Right on that Mason Dixon Line
Choosing a symbolic and historical marker that separates North and South as the location for the cradle.


And swing it from Virginia
Extending the geographical range of the cradle's swinging motion to encompass several states and regions.


To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya
Expressing the mother's affection and devotion through the motion of the cradle and the song that she sings.


"Weep No More My Lady," sing that song again for me
Requesting a specific song that conveys a message of comfort, reassurance, and empathy.


And "Old Black Joe" just as though you had me on your knee
Asking for another song that evokes a sense of nostalgia, history, and identity formation.


A million baby kisses I'll deliver
Promising to show affection and gratitude for the mother's care and attention with multiple gestures of love.


The minute that you sing "The Swanee River"
Identifying another song that resonates with the singer's feelings of longing, belonging, and attachment.


Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye-baby with a Dixie melody
Repeating the refrain and title of the song to emphasize the healing power of music and the mother-child bond.


Any time
Indicating a general situation or condition that triggers a certain emotion or memory, in this case, the sound of a mother singing.


I hear a mammy sing her babe to sleep
Recalling a previous moment or image of a mother soothing her child with a song.


Slumber deep
Describing the desired state of the baby's sleep as sound, peaceful, and uninterrupted.


That's the time
Referring to the previous line as a triggering event or cue for the singer's own emotional reaction.


The shadows 'round my heart begin to creep
Expressing the singer's sense of loss, regret, and sadness that arise from hearing a mother sing to her child.


And I weep
Conveying the emotional response to the trigger as a sudden surge of tears or sadness.


Wonder why I went away
Questioning the motives and choices that led the singer to leave home and the mother's care.


What a fool I've been
Acknowledging a sense of regret or self-blame for past actions or decisions.


Take me back to yesterday
Expressing a desire or plea to go back in time and change the course of events or decisions made.


In your arms again
Yearning for the physical and emotional comfort that comes with being held and loved by the mother.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jonathankieranwriter

Bi-Costal Teacher ... Truly. And, three cheers for her kid, but not on her best day, in the most generous world, in her wettest DREAM does Liza Minnelli even approach the toe of her mother.

Not. even. the. little. toe.

Garland really had IT. Rare, strange creature—like Elvis or vintage Michael Jackson. Explosive talent/charisma. Even if the songs were kinda-sorta (and Garland owned the American Songbook) ...

Well, that’s why they live onward and capture imaginations from one generation to the next.

I hate to say it and don’t mean it in a bad way, but she’s almost freakishly gifted.

Otherworldly is probably the better term.

Yeah.



All comments from YouTube:

@josephbitz7413

There will never be a talent like Judy Garland ever again. I can listen her all day. She's the best!

@candycan4250

NEVER

@allanroser282

I had the extraordinary privilege of seeing Judy in Sydney. I will never forget that night. I miss her every day. God bless her.

@lala-gj4oo

judy wasn't for the faint of heart. when she belted out a song, you knew she was there. rip, judy, you're missed more than you know.

@JESL_Only_1

My sentiments exactly, sir.

@joeyburrell3207

She had a golden voice from the very beginning, but seasoned with Father Time, you can’t beat it. Like fine wine aged. 👍👍👍

@micahwoodard

I can't help but to smile. What an abosolute gift and treasure she was and still is. Unmatched talent

@realfredwithtires

I am 25 years old and people my age know who Judy is and it isn't just "Dorothy and Oz" . It is because she was absolutely incredible!

@taylerrenee9710

I’m 29 and I’m obsessed with this woman! I think a lot of her feelings of loneliness and addiction to pills is what I relate to! I had a dream of her 2 weeks ago and it was her closing and throwing away my pill bottles! Although I have been off pills since December 2017! I was thinking about them when I had the dream it was so weird but yet so amazing

@scottfowler7680

@@taylerrenee9710 Congratulations!

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