Cry Baby Bunting

Cry Baby Bunting,
Daddy’s gone a-hunting,
Gone to fetch a rabbit skin,
To wrap the Baby Bunting in.

Listen in female British accent:

Listen in female American accent:

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Posted in All Rhymes, Daily Life & Objects, Historical & Traditional, Lullabies, Mother Goose Classics, People & Characters

Tagged baby, father, hunting, rabbit

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Meaning

This rhyme depicts a soothing domestic scene in which a baby, nicknamed “Bunting,” is being comforted while their father is out hunting. The purpose of the hunt is practical—bringing back a rabbit skin to swaddle the baby and keep it warm. It’s generally interpreted as a lullaby or comforting rhyme, reflecting early rural family life and traditional roles.

Origin

The rhyme originates from England, and may reflect life in rural or pastoral communities where hunting for food and clothing materials was common. The use of the affectionate term “Bunting” suggests a Northern English or Scottish dialectal influence, where “bunting” was a term of endearment for a plump, cozy baby.

Time Period

First recorded in the 18th century, though it may have been in oral circulation earlier. The version we know today was popularized during the 19th century, particularly during the Victorian era’s embrace of nursery rhymes and children’s literature.

Why It Became Popular

Its short, rhythmic structure and soothing tone made it ideal for use as a lullaby. The rhyme was easily memorized and passed along through oral tradition and appeared in Mother Goose collections, which helped solidify its place in the nursery canon.

First Known Publication

Appeared in print in 1784, in The Nursery Parnassus, a British children’s book. It was later included in Gammer Gurton’s Garland (1810) and other early collections of nursery rhymes.

Structure and Style

Meter: Mostly trochaic dimeter (with some variation)
Rhyme Scheme: AABB
Line Count: 4 lines
Style Notes: Repetition and internal rhyme (“Cry baby Bunting”) create a calming cadence; the use of colloquial phrases like “a-hunting” roots it in everyday speech.

Themes

Domestic life
Parenthood
Comfort and care
Practical survival
Gender roles (father as provider, child as dependent)

Language Notes

“Bunting” is an affectionate term for a small or chubby baby, possibly linked to the Middle English word bonting (a type of bird) or the word “bundle”.
“Gone a-hunting” is an archaic or poetic contraction of “gone out hunting.”
The phrase “rabbit skin” is a nod to historical practices of using pelts for infant wraps.

Moral or Lesson

None clearly intended. The rhyme functions as a soothing expression of care and familial love, not as a didactic lesson.

Historical or Cultural Notes

In the 18th and early 19th centuries, hunting small game like rabbits was a common practice for rural families, both for food and for materials like fur. Infant care often involved wrapping babies tightly in soft materials—called swaddling—for warmth and security. This rhyme captures that domestic reality.

“Cry baby Bunting” may also have served as a playful nickname or teasing chant, depending on context, particularly among siblings or caretakers.

Notable Variants

Some longer versions exist, adding verses about other family members, such as:

Sister’s gone a-milking,
Brother’s gone a-silking,
Mother’s gone to buy a skin,
To wrap the baby Bunting in.

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Cry Baby Bunting

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