All Eyes on Baby
Oh Susanna Lyrics

The song "All Eyes on Baby" by Oh Susanna is a seemingly simple description of a mother doting over her young daughter. However, the lyrics reveal deeper themes of societal pressure and gender roles being imposed on young children, particularly young girls. The mother's words "all eyes on baby" suggest that the daughter is being watched and judged by others, even at such a young age. This creates a pressure for her to perform and conform to societal expectations of what it means to be a "darling daughter."

The mother starts off by describing her daughter's progress in learning to speak and wear dresses - both traditionally feminine skills. She then goes on to instruct her daughter to "sit still" and to be quiet - expressing the idea that girls should be meek and well-behaved. The mother even goes as far as to physically groom her daughter to fit these expectations, tying her hair back and telling her to raise her chin. The last line - "She's learning to be the things we thought her" - highlights the idea that children are often taught specific values and beliefs by their parents, and that these beliefs can directly influence their behavior and identity.

Overall, the lyrics of "All Eyes on Baby" reveal subtle critiques of societal expectations placed on young girls, and the ways in which parents perpetuate these expectations onto their children.