Go to Sleep, My Little Pickaninny

DESCRIPTION: The "little Alabama coon" is told, "Go to sleep, my little pickaninny, Brother Fox will catch you if you don't...." Fuller forms may describe the child's life and ambitions for when he grows up
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Brown)
KEYWORDS: lullaby nonballad
FOUND IN: US(MW,SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 116, "Go to Sleep, My Little Pickaninny" (2 texts plus mention of 1 more)
Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore5 116, "Go To Sleep, My Little Pickaninny" (1 tune plus a text excerpt)
Roud #18978
RECORDINGS:
Debra Sharpe, "Go to Sleep My Little Picaninny" (Piotr-Archive #590, recorded 05/30/2023)
NOTES [49 words]: Brown gives two forms of this song, one a genuine song in which the baby describes its aspirations (such as they are), the second probably a pure lullaby. The full form, which is strongly racist, is probably a minstrel piece which wore down to the somewhat less offensive lullaby version. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: Br3116

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