There are different versions of this lullaby.

Notes

Note: Beware that some people may find the term pickaninny to be offensive. Elizabeth wrote, "In my younger years the word pickaninny/picaninny was a descriptive term, most certainly not intended to be offensive."

Alysa wrote: "My nanna passed away a couple of years ago and I am trying to compile all her Scottish nursery rhymes and lullabies she used to sing to us… Nanna was from Dumbarton in Scotland, but moved to New Zealand when she was 4 years old, but still sung all of these with a Scottish accent, it was fantastic!"

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Elizabeth sent a slightly different version:

I'm almost 80 years old and although I live in Canada, I grew-up in Ireland.

The words that I remember for, 'Go To Sleep My Baby' are as follows:

Go to sleep my baby
Close your pretty eyes
Angels up above you
Peeping at you dearly from the skies
Great big moon is shining
Stars begin to peek
Time for little pickaninnies
To go to sleep
Close your pretty eyes and sleep.

In my younger years the word pickaninny/picaninny was a descriptive term, most certainly not intended to be offensive.

Wishing you many lovely days,
Elizabeth

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Alysa Wakefield for contributing this song and to Elizabeth for sharing her version.

Thanks so much!