[4][5] A version recorded on a phonograph cylinder around 1929–35 in Durham, North Carolina by James Madison Carpenter can be heard online via the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library website.
Due to the melodic and lyrical diversity of other traditional recordings and the fact that Ritchie shared a stage with and directly influenced artists who would later record the song such as The Weavers[10] and Joan Baez,[11] it is likely that the popular version of the song descends from Jean Ritchie's Kentucky family.
[citation needed] The song has been performed and recorded by many artists including Joan Baez, Burl Ives, Regina Spektor, Nina Simone, The Weavers and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The most common version of the lyrics are: Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
If that dog named Rover don't bark, Mama's gonna buy you a horse and cart.
An example of some common couplets used in the transcript of the Target commercial "Amase" (1989): (April) Hush, Apple Dumpling, don't say a word, Cousin's gonna buy you a Mockingbird.