Babies don't keep

mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth

hang out the washing, make up the bed,

sew on a button and butter the bread.

where is the mother who's house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue

Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,

Pat-a-cake darling, and peek, peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockabye, lullaby loo

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.