When Oliver Hardy tried to lull the "little boys" to sleep in the Laurel and Hardy film "Brats," he was singing a ditty that had been first performed by its composer in the mid 1870s--and actually did have a yodeling break like Ollie's back then. Who was the forgotten composer of what most people today can name only by the familiar first line of the chorus? And what is its real title?

Maestro, in fairness to those who have not seen "Brats," shouldn't you say that the chorus (the only part that Ollie sings) begins, "Go to sleep, my baby"?

An excellent idea. I will take the matter under consideration. But wait a minute! Haven't you yourself already said so?

It's "Emmet's Lullaby" or "Go to Sleep, Lena Darling" from the production "Fritz, Our Cousin German" which was sung on stage by composer Joseph Emmet in or around 1878.
Hardy had been a performing boy soprano and probably knew the song from childhood.
1.
Close your eyes, Lena, my darling,
While I sing you lullaby, fear thou no danger, Lena,
Move not, dear Lena, my darling,
For you brouder watches nigh you, Lena dear.
Angels guard thee, Lena, dear, my darling.
Nothing evil can come near;
Brightest flowers bloom for thee,
Darling sister, dear to me.
CHORUS
Go to sleep, go to sleep, my baby, my baby, my baby,
Go to sleep, my baby, baby, oh, bye,
Go to sleep, Lena, sleep.
2.
Bright be de morning, my darling,
You you ope you eyes, sunberams give all around you, Lene.
Peach be with thee, love, my darling.
Blue and cloudless be the sky for Lena dear.
Birds sing their bright songs for thee, my darling,
Full of sweetest melody,
Angels ever hover near
, Darling sister, dear to me.

Maestro, I remember watching one of the older Max Fleisher Popeye cartoons where he confronted Sinbad the Sailor. He was captured by a two headed orgre and as he/they cradled him in their arms they sang bits of "Go to sleep my baby,,," all the while as they punctuated the song with punches to Popeye's jaw.

Ah, yes, Professor, that song turns up everywhere, even if its name and composer have been forgotten! The Maestro's extends his thanks to Dr. Grood for demonstrating that the question was not unanswerable. And for saving us the task of typing all those verses. Bravo! J. K. Emmet's song, by the way, was sometimes called "Brother's Lullaby" because in "Fritz, Our Cousin German" the brother sang it to his sister, Lena.

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