Hi! I was just remembering this song being sung to me when I was a child and went looking for the lyrics - I’m so glad this thread is here!

I worked out the chords just now (may not be 100% accurate but they sound good enough to me) and thought I should share.

I played it on piano in F# major just because I liked where it sat in my voice, so that’s how I’ll write it out with the lyrics. I’ll also put the chord Roman numerals at the end which will hopefully help with transposing.


(F#) Look at those hands, they're baby's hands
(B) Dimpled and (C#) fat like a (F#) pillow
(F#) May they grow up to be (B) strong as an oak
(C#) And as graceful as a (F#) willow

(F#) Oh lord, what will they do – I'm askin' you
Will they (B) bake bread or (C#) play the (F#) fiddle
(F#) For all I know, they will (B) build a new world
(C#) While mine grow old and (F#) brittle

(F#) Little hands, little hands, what are (G#m) you gonna do
(C#) Today, you belong to a baby
(G#m) Tomorrow, you'll (C#7) belong to a (F#*) lady

(F#) I love you little hands when you're playin' in the sand
And (B) the way you (C#) love your (F#) mother
(F#) I will hold on to the (B) memory of this scene
(C#) Like one hand holds the (F#) other

(F#) Little hands, little hands, what are (G#m) you gonna do
(C#) Today, you belong to a baby
(G#m) Tomorrow, you'll (C#7) belong to a (F#) lady
(C#) Today, you belong to a baby
(G#m) Tomorrow, you'll (C#7) belong to a (F#) beautiful lady


*A suspended 4th then resolving it sounds good at the end of the chorus, it mirrors what’s going on in the melody.


To sum up: the verse cycles through I, IV, V, I a couple of times. The chorus starts with I, goes to ii minor, then V, back to ii minor, V with optional 7 added, then back to I with optional sus4.


Hope this helps!!
K