My mum used to sing this to me and I have sung it to all my six children along with Goodnight Mr Elephant and Peek a Boo I see you hiding there as her mother had sung them to her.

My Mum died 32 years ago. Last night I sang them all to her sister my aunt as she lay seriously ill in hospital. Then i came home and sang them again to my 10 month old grandson as he fell asleep in my arms.

How lovely to find google can reveal to me others who love this song - and know all the words. Mummy sang the babby version with the un PC words coon and nigger. But to me as a little white child they were beautiful words, tender, loving and exotic.