My mother used to sing this to us when we were growing up, and now I sing it to my son. It's a beautiful lullaby.

A few years ago I was playing around with it on the banjo and ended up writing another song, attached to it:

Bye 'n Bye Little Baby
"Bye 'n Bye" lullaby traditional, additional song by Dan Schatz      
      
Bye 'n bye      
Bye 'n bye      
Stars shining number, number one,         
Number two, number three, good Lord      
Bye 'n bye, bye 'n bye, good Lord      
Bye, 'n bye      
      
Bye 'n bye      
Bye 'n bye      
Stars shining number, number four,         
Number five, number six, good Lord      
Bye 'n bye, bye 'n bye, good Lord      
Bye, 'n bye      
      
Evening shadow's coming on      
You and I, my little child, are left here 'till the dawn      
To rock away the hours with gentle thoughts and moonlit songs      
And wish these days were gone      

Chorus:      
        Bye 'n bye, little baby-o; it's time to go to sleep      
        Your mother works in the weaving mills; your father's on the deep      
        Oh baby, go to sleep      
      
Shuttles click and clatter in the mills      
While you lie peaceful in your cradle sheltered by these hills      
Your mother's shifting bobbins as they labor on the looms      
To give her babe a room      
      
Chorus   
      
Father is far away at sea      
To fight the wars of other men, it's a sailor he must be      
While out on deck the ocean waves bring dreams of love and home      
And a babe he's never known      
      
Chorus
      
Hush now babe, there is no need.      
One day soon you'll go to school; you'll learn to count and read      
You'll grow into a better life with babies of your own      
And at night you'll stay at home      
      
Final Chorus:
Bye 'n bye, little baby-o; it's time to go to sleep      
Your mother's love flies home from weaving, father's from the deep      
Oh baby, go to sleep      
      
Bye 'n bye      
Bye 'n bye      
Stars shining number, number seven,         
Number eight, number nine, number ten, good Lord      
Bye 'n bye, bye 'n bye, good Lord      
Bye, 'n bye      
      

©2006 by Dan Schatz
Thirty-six String Music

Dan