114:
and often sold away. None of
Scarborough's versions are named "All the Pretty Little Horses"; most sing of ponies rather than horses, and are innocuous; however, a "somewhat gruesome" one about mules ends "Buzzards and flies / Picking out its eyes, / Pore little baby crying, / Mamma, mamma!".
134:
give a version titled "All the Pretty Little Horses" and ending: 'Way down yonder / In de medder / There's a po' lil lambie, / De bees an' de butterflies / Peckin' out its eyes, / De po' lil thing cried, "Mammy!"' The
Lomaxes quote Scarborough as to the lullaby's origins.
307:"All the Pretty Little Horses" has inspired a variety of recordings (both direct performances of the known lyrics and adaptations thereof). Some of the singers who have recorded adaptations of "All the Pretty Little Horses" include (but are not limited to):
442:
400:
593:
146:"All the Pretty Little Horses" is an authentic slave lullaby; it reveals the bitter feelings of Negro mothers who had to watch over their white charges while neglecting their own children.'
437:
569:
610:
1054:
102:
and which is reported in many varying forms, but with the spirit and the tune practically the same." Scarborough says such lullabies were sung by enslaved
697:
106:
to the white children in their care; "the black mother often spent her tenderest love on the white child she nursed" because, while she was
1079:
942:
24:
1074:
604:
412:
20:
464:
111:
989:
558:
1094:
765:
48:
1069:
1099:
1084:
745:
804:
42:
from the United States. It has inspired dozens of recordings and adaptations, as well as the title of
914:
650:
426:
382:, two versions as "All the Pretty Little Horses", for their 1996 album of the same name, one sung by
1044:
Lomax, John, and Alan Lomax. "All The Pretty Little Horses". New York City: Ludlow Music Inc., 1934.
783:
734:
488:
421:
75:. In the story, "a little girl" sings to "her baby brother" what is footnoted as "an old lullaby":
832:
119:") with similar gruesome endings in which the eyeless animal cries "Mammy" rather than "Mamma".
396:
99:
889:
629:
516:
1036:
8:
671:
663:, on her album, Hushabye, which is dedicated to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby.
116:
91:
681:
composed an arrangement of "The Little Horses" for voice and piano as the second set of
1089:
624:
1009:"Esther Ofarim - Esther and Abi Ofarim - Esther & Abi Ofarim - Ofraim אסתר עופרים"
985:
729:
618:
72:
976:. History of Women in the United States. Vol. 5/1. K. G. Saur. pp. 44–57.
977:
959:
955:
640:
497:
348:
103:
1021:
760:
711:
660:
453:
416:
387:
353:
337:
43:
693:
599:
586:
358:
327:
1063:
981:
678:
553:
525:
475:
431:
406:
372:
362:
342:
331:
1055:
Lyrics - National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, "Kids' Pages"
963:
923:
741:
724:
715:
688:
564:
533:
506:
479:
139:
64:
289:
A black and a bay and a brown and a gray and a Coach______________________
634:
613:, as "Բոլոր Գեղեցիկ Ձիերը", arranged by Karenn Presti, on the 2017 album
575:
537:
367:
317:
107:
1008:
770:
580:
483:
448:
379:
311:
131:
127:
778:
459:
383:
295:
Don't you cry, Oh you pret-ty lit-tle ba - by. Go to sleep-y lit-tle
19:
This article is about the lullaby. For the album by
Current 93, see
854:
706:
543:
321:
943:"Reflections on the Black Woman's Role in the Community of Slaves"
63:
An early published version is in "A White Dove", a 1903 story for
732:. The song is featured prominently in the 2023 film Los Colonos (
657:, recorded live on April 10, 11 & 12, 1964, released in 1999.
98:
describes the song as "one lullaby which is widely known through
68:
39:
591:
Sam Cahoon as "All the Pretty Little Horses", on his 2008 album
60:
The song is commonly thought to be of
African-American origin.
666:
193:
896:. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 144–149.
719:
298:
ba - by. Oh________________ you pret-ty lit-tle ba-by.____
722:. The melody is also used in the score of the 1961 film
528:, as "All the Pretty Little Ponies", for his 1994 album
451:, as "All the Pretty Little Horses", for her 1997 album
556:, as "Whole Heap of Little Horses", for her 1998 album
115:
Scarborough then gives other lullabies ("Ole Cow" and "
370:, as "All the Pretty Little Horses", for their album
67:
by Maud McKnight
Lindsay (1874–1941), a teacher from
922:. New York: Macmillan. pp. 304−305 – via
345:, in the style of the Renaissance countertenor voice
754:
All the Pretty Little Horses: A Traditional
Lullaby
302:
941:
913:
515:The Jukebox Band, during the Lullaby Medley in a
1061:
142:commented on a version similar to the Lomaxes':
472:Lullabies Go Jazz: Sweet Songs for Sweet Dreams
443:Cedarmont Kids - Lullabies - All Night All Day
696:,as "Pretty Little Horses" on the 2014 album "
567:, as "All the Pretty Horses", for her 2008 EP
81: White and gray and black and bay;
883:
881:
879:
877:
875:
826:
824:
85: You shall see some day, some day—
264:Coach---------- and six-a lit-tle hor - ses.
194:Additional verse (included in some versions)
154:
887:
911:
872:
821:
275:When you wake, you'll have sweet cake, and
602:, "But I Never Heard a Sound So Long" on
974:The Intersection of Work and Family Life
972:Cott, Nancy F., ed. (31 December 1992).
632:, as "Hush-A-Bye", for their 1963 album
292:and six-a lit-tle hor-ses. Hush you bye,
283:A brown and a gray and a black and a bay
907:
905:
903:
830:
415:, as part of a 1963 folk song suite by
286:and a Coach and six-a lit-tle hor - ses
1062:
409:for the Album "That's our Song" (1965)
25:All the Pretty Horses (disambiguation)
939:
802:
605:Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden
1035:Engle, Robert B. Waltz and David G.
971:
930:
912:Lomax, John A.; Lomax, Alan (1934).
900:
594:The Dismal Stars and the Clouds Afar
413:Five Folk Songs for Soprano and Band
261:Blacks and bays, Dap-ples and grays,
21:All the Pretty Little Horses (album)
643:, "The Little Horses" on her album
465:Baptism: A Journey Through Our Time
110:, her own children were off in the
13:
241:
14:
1111:
1048:
559:Murder, Misery and Then Goodnight
250:Go to sleep-y, my little ba - by.
894:On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs
303:Musical and literary adaptations
96:On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs
940:Davis, Angela (December 1971).
920:American Ballads and Folk Songs
803:Gupta, Sudip Das (2020-12-22).
769:. It inspired a short story in
759:The song provided the title of
278:All the pret-ty lit-tle hor-ses
124:American Ballads and Folk Songs
1015:
1001:
960:10.1080/00064246.1971.11431201
915:"All the Pretty Little Horses"
847:
831:Lindsay, Maud (October 1903).
805:"All the Pretty Little Horses"
796:
470:Jon Crosse, in his 1985 album
401:"Live At The Recording Studio"
256:All the pretty lit-tle hor-ses
214:Poor little baby crying momma"
183:Coach and six a little horses.
87:All the pretty little horses.
83:All the pretty little horses,
1:
1041:2011 (accessed July 19, 2012)
888:Scarborough, Dorothy (1925).
843:(2). Springfield, Mass.: 106.
790:
390:, appears on the compilation
272:Go to sleep-y lit-tle ba - by
253:When you wake, you shall have
205:Poor little baby crying momma
172:all the pretty little horses.
79:All the pretty little horses,
1080:Traditional children's songs
859:Alabama Women's Hall of Fame
493:New Directions in Folk Music
269:Hush you bye, Don't you cry,
189:Go to sleep, my little baby.
32:All the Pretty Little Horses
16:Traditional American lullaby
7:
386:. A third version, sung by
247:Hush you bye, Don't you cry
10:
1118:
1029:
615:My First Armenian Songbook
392:Calling for Vanished Faces
163:Go to sleepy, little baby.
160:Hush a bye, don’t you cry,
18:
1075:American children's songs
752:(1974) and Lisa Saport's
651:The New Christy Minstrels
647:released October 9, 2001.
208:Birds and the butterflies
186:Hush-a-by, Don't you cry,
155:Dorothy Scarborough, 1925
149:
55:
982:10.1515/9783110968835.44
784:Sometimes a Great Notion
422:Friends of Dean Martinez
855:"Maud McKnight Lindsay"
777:. It is sung by Viv in
548:Good Night, Sleep Tight
540:singing harmony vocals.
237:poor things crying mama
211:Flutter 'round his eyes
122:In the 1934 collection
108:in the plantation house
521:Stacy Forgets Her Name
438:Tanya Goodman (singer)
234:flutter round its eyes
228:poor thing crying mama
23:. For other uses, see
766:All the Pretty Horses
750:All The Pretty Horses
530:Return to Pooh Corner
509:, for her 1990 album
231:birds and butterflies
126:, ethnomusicologists
49:All the Pretty Horses
1095:Year of song unknown
775:Here There Be Ghosts
773:'s 1998 collection
744:adaptations include
704:The song appears in
655:Live From Ledbetters
630:Peter, Paul and Mary
578:, on her 2011 album
550:1986 video and album
517:Shining Time Station
500:, on his 2004 album
491:on their 1963 album
38:") is a traditional
1070:American folk songs
837:Kindergarten Review
675:, released in 1957.
672:At the Gate of Horn
611:Stephanie Betjemann
314:on Texas Folk Songs
117:Baa Baa Black Sheep
92:Dorothy Scarborough
1100:Songwriter unknown
1085:Songs about horses
683:Old American Songs
625:Olivia Newton-John
462:on her 1968 album
222:Down in the meadow
180:dapples and grays,
34:" (also known as "
948:The Black Scholar
730:Chincoteague pony
698:Lullaby For Naila
653:, on their album
225:a wee little lamb
73:Robert B. Lindsay
1107:
1038:The Ballad Index
1024:
1019:
1013:
1012:
1005:
999:
995:
967:
945:
934:
928:
927:
917:
909:
898:
897:
885:
870:
869:
867:
865:
851:
845:
844:
828:
819:
818:
816:
815:
800:
641:Charlotte Church
570:Six White Horses
498:Jonathan Meiburg
399:one their album
349:Caroline Herring
177:Blacks and Bays,
145:
71:and daughter of
1117:
1116:
1110:
1109:
1108:
1106:
1105:
1104:
1060:
1059:
1051:
1032:
1027:
1020:
1016:
1007:
1006:
1002:
998:
992:
935:
931:
910:
901:
886:
873:
863:
861:
853:
852:
848:
829:
822:
813:
811:
801:
797:
793:
761:Cormac McCarthy
712:Georges Delerue
710:, performed by
669:, on her album
661:Hayley Westenra
454:Dark Dear Heart
417:Bernard Gilmore
388:Shirley Collins
338:Barbara Dickson
305:
244:
242:Popular version
199:Way down yonder
196:
169:You shall have,
157:
152:
143:
89:
86:
84:
82:
80:
65:kindergarteners
58:
44:Cormac McCarthy
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1115:
1114:
1103:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1058:
1057:
1050:
1049:External links
1047:
1046:
1045:
1042:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1014:
1000:
997:
996:
990:
968:
936:
929:
899:
871:
846:
833:"A White Dove"
820:
794:
792:
789:
763:'s 1992 novel
702:
701:
694:Leon Rosselson
691:
686:
676:
664:
658:
648:
638:
627:
622:
608:
600:Matana Roberts
597:
589:
587:Laurie Berkner
584:
573:
562:
551:
541:
523:
513:
511:Baby's Bedtime
504:
495:
489:The Journeymen
486:
468:
457:
446:
435:
427:Grant Campbell
424:
419:
410:
404:
394:
377:
365:
359:The Chieftains
356:
351:
346:
340:
335:
325:
315:
304:
301:
300:
299:
296:
293:
290:
287:
284:
280:
279:
276:
273:
270:
266:
265:
262:
258:
257:
254:
251:
248:
243:
240:
239:
238:
235:
232:
229:
226:
223:
216:
215:
212:
209:
206:
203:
200:
195:
192:
191:
190:
187:
184:
181:
178:
174:
173:
170:
167:
166:when you wake,
164:
161:
156:
153:
151:
148:
112:slave quarters
94:'s 1925 study
77:
57:
54:
46:'s 1992 novel
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1113:
1112:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1067:
1065:
1056:
1053:
1052:
1043:
1040:
1039:
1034:
1033:
1023:
1018:
1010:
1004:
993:
991:9783110968835
987:
983:
979:
975:
970:reprinted in
969:
965:
961:
957:
953:
949:
944:
938:
937:
933:
925:
921:
916:
908:
906:
904:
895:
891:
884:
882:
880:
878:
876:
860:
856:
850:
842:
838:
834:
827:
825:
810:
809:Poem Analysis
806:
799:
795:
788:
786:
785:
780:
776:
772:
768:
767:
762:
757:
755:
751:
747:
746:Susan Jeffers
743:
739:
737:
736:
731:
727:
726:
721:
717:
713:
709:
708:
699:
695:
692:
690:
687:
684:
680:
679:Aaron Copland
677:
674:
673:
668:
665:
662:
659:
656:
652:
649:
646:
642:
639:
637:
636:
631:
628:
626:
623:
620:
617:, in Western
616:
612:
609:
607:
606:
601:
598:
596:
595:
590:
588:
585:
583:
582:
577:
574:
572:
571:
566:
563:
561:
560:
555:
554:Kristin Hersh
552:
549:
545:
542:
539:
535:
531:
527:
526:Kenny Loggins
524:
522:
518:
514:
512:
508:
505:
503:
499:
496:
494:
490:
487:
485:
481:
477:
476:Clare Fischer
473:
469:
467:
466:
461:
458:
456:
455:
450:
447:
445:
444:
439:
436:
434:
433:
432:The Burrowers
428:
425:
423:
420:
418:
414:
411:
408:
407:Esther Ofarim
405:
402:
398:
395:
393:
389:
385:
381:
378:
375:
374:
373:Black Antlers
369:
366:
364:
363:Patty Griffin
360:
357:
355:
352:
350:
347:
344:
343:Alfred Deller
341:
339:
336:
333:
329:
326:
323:
319:
316:
313:
310:
309:
308:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
282:
281:
277:
274:
271:
268:
267:
263:
260:
259:
255:
252:
249:
246:
245:
236:
233:
230:
227:
224:
221:
220:
219:
213:
210:
207:
204:
202:In the meadow
201:
198:
197:
188:
185:
182:
179:
176:
175:
171:
168:
165:
162:
159:
158:
147:
141:
136:
133:
129:
125:
120:
118:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
93:
88:
76:
74:
70:
66:
61:
53:
51:
50:
45:
41:
37:
33:
26:
22:
1037:
1017:
1003:
973:
964:academia.edu
962:– via
951:
947:
932:
924:Open Library
919:
893:
862:. Retrieved
858:
849:
840:
836:
812:. Retrieved
808:
798:
782:
774:
764:
758:
753:
749:
742:Picture book
740:
735:The Settlers
733:
723:
716:Meryl Streep
714:and sung by
705:
703:
689:Shawn Colvin
682:
670:
654:
644:
633:
614:
603:
592:
579:
568:
565:Laura Gibson
557:
547:
534:David Crosby
529:
520:
510:
507:Judy Collins
501:
492:
480:Putter Smith
471:
463:
452:
441:
430:
391:
371:
306:
217:
140:Angela Davis
137:
123:
121:
95:
90:
78:
62:
59:
47:
35:
31:
29:
954:(4): 2–15.
890:"Lullabies"
864:4 September
645:Enchantment
635:In the Wind
621:translation
576:Laura Veirs
538:Graham Nash
502:Buteo Buteo
328:Víctor Jara
318:The Mystics
1064:Categories
814:2023-11-21
791:References
771:Jane Yolen
581:Tumble Bee
484:Luis Conte
449:Holly Cole
380:Current 93
332:Quilapayún
312:Alan Lomax
132:Alan Lomax
36:Hush-a-bye
1090:Lullabies
781:'s novel
779:Ken Kesey
460:Joan Baez
403:, in 1964
397:The Big 3
384:Nick Cave
138:In 1971,
100:the South
756:(1999).
728:about a
707:Silkwood
619:Armenian
544:Kidsongs
519:episode
354:Calexico
322:Hushabye
1030:Sources
474:, with
104:mammies
69:Alabama
40:lullaby
988:
685:(1952)
667:Odetta
536:&
482:, and
376:, 2004
334:, 1968
150:Lyrics
56:Origin
725:Misty
546:, on
532:with
361:with
1022:imdb
986:ISBN
866:2024
720:Cher
718:and
440:for
429:for
368:Coil
330:and
130:and
128:John
978:doi
956:doi
787:.
738:).
218:Or
52:.
1066::
984:.
950:.
946:.
918:.
902:^
892:.
874:^
857:.
841:14
839:.
835:.
823:^
807:.
748:'
478:,
1011:.
994:.
980::
966:.
958::
952:3
926:.
868:.
817:.
700:"
324:"
320:"
144:'
30:"
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.