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Origins of words
to "Rock a bye baby"
in American history
The words and lyrics to
the "Rock a bye
baby" rhyme are
reputed to reflect
the observations of
a young pilgrim boy
in America who had
seen Native Indian
mothers suspend a
birch bark cradle
from the branches of
a tree. Thus
enabling the wind to
rock the cradle and
the child to sleep!
This rhyme is also
known as "Hush a bye
baby" which is the
correct title. The
confusion regarding
these lyrics
occurred due to the
popularity of the
old Al Jolson
classic song "Rock a
bye my baby with a
Dixie melody!"
Origins of words
to "Rock a bye baby"
in English history
dating back to the
1700's
The story of the
Nursery Rhyme
relates to a family
who lived in a tree
house which was
formed within a
massive Yew tree.
The Yew Tree
concerned was
believed to be
nearly 2000 years
old. The family were
charcoal burners who
lived in Shining
Cliff Woods,
Ambergate,
Derbyshire in the
1700's. The ancient
occupation of
Charcoal Burning
would be conducted
by people who
actually lived in
the woods. Just like
like this family.
Their names were
Kate and Luke
Kennyon and they
lived in what was
locally called the
'Betty Kenny Tree' -
a colloquialism for
Kate Kenyon. The
Kenyons had 8
children and a tree
bough was hollowed
out to act as a
cradle for their
children! Shining
Cliff Woods was
owned at the time by
the Hurt family. The
Kenyons were
favoured by the
Hurts who
commissioned the
artist James Ward of
the Royal Academy to
paint their
portraits. The Yew
tree still exists
but was severely
fire damaged by
vandals in the
1930s. More
information may be
located on the Amber
Valley Borough
Council website.
Out grateful
thanks go to James
Hamilton
for providing us
with the lead to the
English origins to
'Rock a Bye Baby. |
