Say, Darlin’, Say

Traditional | Roud 470, Ballad Index RcSyDaSa

Lyrics:

Hush little baby don’t say a word
Mama’s gonna buy you a mocking bird
Say, darlin’, say
If that mocking bird don’t sing
Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring
Say, darlin’, say

If that diamond ring is brass
Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass
Say, darlin’, say
If that looking glass gets broke
Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat
Say, darlin’, say

If that billy goat won’t pull
Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull
Say, darlin’, say
If that cart and bull falls over
Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover
Say, darlin’, say

If it dog named Rover don’t bark
Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart
Say, darlin’, say
If that horse and cart falls down
You’re still the sweetest little baby in town
Say, darlin’, say

Additional Verses

Say little darlin won’t you marry me
Live in a holler neath the old oak tree
Say, darlin’, say
In the old oak tree we’ll make our home
Never more in this world to roam
Say, darlin’, say

Say little darlin if you were mine
You wouldn’t do nothing but starch and iron
Say, darlin’, say
Starch and iron would be your trade
I’d get drunk and lay in the shade
Say, darlin’, say

Say little darlin won’t you marry me
Live in a holler neath the old oak tree
Say, darlin’, say
Live in the holler neath the old oak tree
Children bouncin’ on daddy’s knee
Say, darlin’, say

Featured On:
Old Time American Music

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About the Song:

“Say, Darlin’, Say” is an Appalachian floating verse song and cousin of the popular lullaby “Hush Little Baby”. Although the melodies are very similar, “Say, Darlin’, Say” is often played much faster. The first documentation comes from the playing of Ernest Van “Pop” Stoneman of Galax, Grayson Co, VA and The Sweet Brothers of Damascus, Washington Co, VA. They recorded the song in 1928 for the Gennett (6733-A) and was released the following year using the pseudonym “Justin Winfield”.

Other titles include: “Say, Darling”

Related songs and variants: “Hush Little Baby”, “Mockingbird”