Sweet Baby James
Composer(s): James Taylor
First release by: James Taylor - 1970
Covered by multiple other artists



There is a young cowboy who lives on the range
His horse and his cattle were his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyon
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change
As the moon rises he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
He's closing his eyes as the dogies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but is clear
As if maybe someone could hear

Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rock a bye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colours i choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rock a bye sweet baby James

Now the first of december was covered with snow
So was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Though the birches seemed dreamlike
On account of that frosting
With 10 miles behind me and 10,000 more to go
There's a song that they sing
When they take to the highway
There's a song that they sing
When they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me

Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rock a bye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colours i choose
Won't you let me go down in my dreams
And rock a bye sweet baby James