John wrote asking for help with a lullaby:
Hi Lisa,
My father was born in India, Granny’s family lived in India, between the early 1800’s and 1947. There is an Indian Children’s Lullaby, Ninnie Buba Ninnie, sung to my father and many generations of children. I am seeking the words and translation of the original, sweet children’s version of this lullaby. It is probably is Hindi.
Dealing with the shortened, commonly recognized version, the words and translation are as follows;
Ninnie baba Ninnie
Sleep baby sleep,
Mackhan roti cheene,
Butter, bread and sugar,
Makan roti hoa gia,
not known?
Soja Baba Soja,
Sleep Baby Sleep,
Mera baba so ja,
Unknown ?
Ninnie Nina baba so gaya, gaya
Little baby has gone to sleep.It is the missing translations, and any other verses that I am seeking.
I look forward to your help with the above.
John & Chrissy Wellborne
Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
I found this similar version below on The Tribune and elsewhere. It seems to be a popular version…
Nini baba nini
Muckan roti chini
Muckan roti hogiah
Chota baba so giah
If anyone can help with John’s version and/or translating the other version, please let us know in the comments below. We’re always please to post recordings too.
Thanks in advance!
Mama Lisa
This artilce was posted on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 4:48 pm and is filed under Children's Songs, Children's Songs from India, Countries & Cultures, Hindi, Hindi Children's Songs, Hindi Lullabies, India, Languages, Lullabies, Mama Lisa, Questions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:18 am
I asked Tarun Pratap Singh who has contributed a Hindi Rhyme in the past. Here’s what I was sent back…
Ninnie baba Ninnie
Sleep baby sleep,
Mackhan roti cheene,
Butter, bread and sugar,
Makan roti hoa gia,
butter and bread has finished
Soja Baba Soja,
Sleep Baby Sleep,
Mera baba so ja,
My baby sleep
Ninnie Nina baba so gaya, gaya
Little baby has gone to sleep.
Many thanks to Tarun Pratap Singh for helping with this lullaby!
Mama Lisa
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:31 pm
HI..I am a 42 year old English woman with an Anglo iIndian father and grandmother who sang that to me . And I have sung that to my children . In fact I sang it again tonight to my youngest who is 4. Is there are recording of anyone singing this , as i have to remember as i remember from a child and i am not sure i am saying / singing it right. I want my children to sing it to their children. Thanks , Deb
June 23rd, 2010 at 7:42 pm
I can’t find it anywhere. Can anyone send a recording of this song? Thanks in advance!
Mama Lisa