All the Pretty Horses Lyrics

A hauntingly beautiful lullaby rooted in the African American oral tradition, believed to date back to the early 1800s. First published in 1925 in Dorothy Scarborough's 'On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs,' it remains one of the most tender and moving lullabies in American folk heritage. Best for ages 0–6. The slow tempo, descending melodic line, and emotional warmth make it one of the most effective lullabies in the traditional canon. The song carries historical weight — it was often sung by enslaved women to soothe both their own children and the children they were forced to nurse — which is worth acknowledging when sharing it with older children. For more lullabies and sleep songs, see [top 10 lullabies for newborns](/blog/top-10-lullabies-for-newborns).

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little horses.

Blacks and bays, dapples and greys,
Coach and six-a-little horses,
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.

Way down yonder in the meadow,
Lies a poor little lambie,
The bees and the butterflies
Pecking out its eyes.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little horses.