From The Wit and Humor of America, edited by Marshall P. Wilder, Volume III, New York and London: Funk and Wagnalls and Company, 1911; pp. 542-543.
MAMMY’S LULLABY
BY STRICKLAND W. GILLILAN
Sleep, mah li’l pigeon, don’ you’ heah yo’ mammy coo?
Sunset still a-shinin’ in de wes’;
Sky am full o’ windesh an’ de stahs am peepin’ froo —
Eb’ryt’ing but mammy’s lamb at res’.
Swing ’im to’ds de Eas’lan’,
Swing ’im to’ds de Souf —
See dat dove a-comin’ wif a olive in ’is mouf!
Angel hahps a-hummin’,
Angel banjos strumming’ —
Sleep, mah li’l pigeon, don’ yo’ heah yo’ mammy coo?
Cricket fiddleh scrapin’ off de rozzum f’um ’is bow,
Whippo’will a-mo’nin’ on a lawg;
Moon ez pale ez hit kin be a-risin’ mighty slow —
Stahtled at de bahkin’ ob de dawg;
Swing de baby Eas’way,
Swing de baby Wes’,
Swing ’im to’ds de Souflan’ whah de melon grow de bes’!
Angel singers singin’,
Angel bells a-ringin’,
Sleep, mah li’l pigeon, don’ yo’ heah yo’ mammy coo?
Eyelids des a-droopin’ li’l loweh all de w’ile,
Undeh lip a-saggin’ des a mite;
Li’l baby toofies showin’ so’t o’ lak a smile,
Whiteh dan de snow, or des ez white.
543Swing ’im to’ds de No’flan”,
Swing ’im to’ds de Eas’ —
Woolly cloud a-comin’ fo’ t’ wrap ’im in ’is fleece!
Angel ban’ a-playin’ —
Whut dat music sayin’?
“Sleep, mah li’l pigeon, don’ yo’ heah yo’ mammy coo?”