Bye, baby bunting
Encyclopedia
'Bye, baby Bunting' is a popular English language
nursery rhyme
and lullaby
. It has a Roud Folk Song Index
number of 11018.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
and lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
. It has a Roud Folk Song Index
Roud Folk Song Index
The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of 300,000 references to over 21,600 songs that have been collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world...
number of 11018.
Lyrics
The most common modern version is:- Bye, baby Bunting,
- Daddy’s gone a-hunting,
- Gone to get a rabbit skin
- To wrap the baby Bunting in.
Origins
The term bunting is a term of endearment that may also imply 'plump'. The earliest published version was published in Gammer Gurton's Garland or The Nursery Parnassus in England in 1784. A version in Songs for the Nursery 1805 had the longer lyrics:- Bye, baby Bunting,
- Father's gone a-hunting,
- Mother's gone a-milking,
- Sister's gone a-silking,
- Brother's gone to buy a skin
- To wrap the baby Bunting in.
In popular culture
- The rhyme was illustrated by the British artist, Randolph CaldecottRandolph CaldecottRandolph Caldecott was a British artist and illustrator, born in Chester. The Caldecott Medal was named in his honor. He exercised his art chiefly in book illustrations. His abilities as an artist were promptly and generously recognized by the Royal Academy. Caldecott greatly influenced...
(1846–86).
- The dystopian novel Brave New WorldBrave New WorldBrave New World is Aldous Huxley's fifth novel, written in 1931 and published in 1932. Set in London of AD 2540 , the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology and sleep-learning that combine to change society. The future society is an embodiment of the ideals that form the basis of...
(1932) by Aldous HuxleyAldous HuxleyAldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
contains the adapted reference 'Bye baby Banting, soon you'll need decanting'.
- A mysterious man summoned during an incantation gone awry in the urban fantasy novel The MagiciansThe MagiciansThe Magicians is a short novel by J. B. Priestley, first published in 1954. An example of Priestley's perennial concern with the true nature of time, the story uses fantasy elements to discuss the midlife crisis of a successful industrialist, briefly touching on social problems and mass...
(2009) by Lev GrossmanLev GrossmanLev Grossman is an American novelist and journalist, notably the author of the novels Warp , Codex , The Magicians and The Magician King...
recites the rhyme shortly before vanishing again.
- "Each Peach, Pear, Plum" by Janet & Allan AhlbergJanet and Allan AhlbergJanet and Allan Ahlberg are the creators of many popular children's books, which regularly appear at the top of the 'most popular' lists for public libraries. Husband and wife, they worked together for 20 years until Janet died of cancer on 13 November 1994, aged 50. Allan wrote the books, and...
includes Baby Bunting as one of the characters "I spy".
- In the "The Good, The Bad and the Queen" project, Damon Albarn sings "Bye, baby bunting" in "The Bunting Song".