Dear little dolly

by Beth
(Peoria Arizona USA)

I have a dear little dolly she has eyes of bright blue.

My mother just passed away and I have a new grand baby and would like to sing this song to him the way my mother sang it to me. Can anyone help?

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May 16, 2023
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Little dollie NEW
by: Anonymous

My grandmother and mother used to sing this to us in the 1959’s and I sang it to my kids and grandkids.
Only they had a slightly different beginning
How da do little baby
You have eyes of true blue
You can open and close them
And can smile at me to
In the morning I dress you
As we go out to play
But I best like to rock you
At the close of the day
Oct 27, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Midwestern version NEW
by: Anonymous

My mother’s version ended
"In the morning I dress her and we go out to play,
and I tuck her In her little beddie at the end of the day."
Oct 22, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		my great grandmother wrote this NEW
by: Great Granddaughter

I am the great granddaughter of the creature of the song. She was (so I heard) a great loving person, my grandmother passed away on October 17,2022 at 7:25pm. She died of a heart attack and was brought back but was not conscious, was and life support, and uncomfortable. We decided to take her off life support cause she wasn't coming back and we sang this song to her a she took her last breath's because that is the song her mom made for her. This song is very close to are family and this is how my mom sings it
" I've a dear little dolly, with eyes of bright blue, she can open and close them, and she smiles at me to. In the morning I dress her, and we go out to play but I like best to rock her at the close of the day" Thanks for all of the love and support to this song over the years.
Jun 29, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Here's how my mother sang it. NEW
by: Anonymous

My mother was born in 1919. Her mother sang this song to her and here is the way she sang it to me:

I've a dear lit-tle, her eyes are bright blue,

She can open and close them and she smiles at me too.

In the morning I dress he and we go out to play,

But I like best to rock her at the end of the day.
Jun 28, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I have a Dear little Dolly passed down generations NEW
by: Anonymous

My mom was born in 1922 and learned this song in Hazel
Park Mi- my two older sisters and I sang it to our kids and our kids sing it to their children. Gives me great joy in finding others like me who has received this darling song and have passed it down
May 06, 2022
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dolly song NEW
by: Anonymous

my mama sang this to me and all my siblings and all her grandchildren and great grandchildren she changed the words to instead of dear dolly she said I love this sweet baby his eyes are bright blue she can open and shut them and she smiles at me two in the morning I dress her and she goes out to play but I best like to rock her at the close of the day
Dec 14, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Lullaby NEW
by: Sandy

My mother used to sing this to the 4 of us as babies. I sang it to my 2 children as well (changing the eye color and his/her as needed). Now I sing it to my 3 grandchildren. Hoping it passes down.....
Feb 04, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		"Dear Little Dolly" NEW
by: Grama Geri

My mother sang this song to my baby sister and Brother. I too sang it to all my children and now to my grand kids and great grand kids

" I have a dear little dolly and her eyes are bright blue. She can open and close them , and she smiles at me too. In the morning I dress her and we go out to play, but I like best to rock her at the close of the day".
My first grandchild had brown eyes so I changed it for my brown eyed grand kids.

"I have a dear little dolly and her eyes are bright brown, she can open and close them and she never has a frown."
The rest of the song is thw same
Jan 19, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I have a sweet little dolly NEW
by: Anonymous

I know the song 2038689614 call me and i will sing it for u
Jan 05, 2019
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dear Little Dolly
by: Connie

The song I was taught goes like this and I had to sing it at the school Christmas play about 60 years ago.
"Dear little dolly come leave your play, put all your toys and your playthings away. Fie, little dolly, you must not weep, for it is bedtime and dollies must sleep.
Sleep little dolly, close your sweet eyes" this is all I remember...
Oct 07, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Gerri’s lullaby to her baby sisters NEW
by: Denise

My older sister Gerri sang this song to me and my baby sister Natalie. We believed it was our song. That was over 60 years ago. She must have learned this from our Mother because we remember Mom singing it to her grandchildren. There were 10 sisters and all of us sang it to our children and nieces and nephews. 5 generations! We miss you Dean Dean!❤️

I have a dear little dolly, she has eyes of bright blue. She can open and shut them and she smiles at me too. In the morning I dress her and we go our to play but I like best to rock her at the end of the day.
Oct 07, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Gerri’s lullaby to her baby sisters NEW
by: Denise

My older sister Gerri always sang this to me and my baby sister Natalie. That was over 60 years ago! Our Mother must have taught Gerri because we remember Mom singing it to her grandchildren. There were 10 sisters and all of us have passed this down to our children and nieces and nephews. Five generations. Such fond memories! We miss you Dean Dean.

I have a dear little dolly. She has eyes of bright blue. She can open and shut them and she smiles at me too. In the morning I dress her and we go out to play, but I like best to rock her at the end of the day.
Feb 02, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My mom NEW
by: Anonymous

My Mom was born in 1919. She learned that song when she was a kid and sung it to me when I was little.
Jan 12, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dolly song NEW
by: Cesca

My mother learned it from her mother and sang it to me too.

My mother was born in 1929.

I’ve a dear little dolly and her eyes are bright blue,
She can open and shut them and she smiles at me too.
In the morning I dress her and we go out to play,
But I like best to rock her at the close of the day.

(Changes tempo and key)
Go to sleep my baby,
close your eyes of blue,
Soon will come the sandman,
Bringing dreams to you.

I read somewhere it was from France.
Aug 29, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dear Little Dolly NEW
by: Anonymous

My mother use to sing that song when she rocked me to sleep and she always told me her grandfather would always sing it to her. But I always wondered where that song came from.
Apr 20, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Origin? NEW
by: Anonymous

Does anyone know who wrote Dear Dolly or where it originated?
Apr 20, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I've a Dear Little Dolly NEW
by: Ann Emerick

I've a dear little dolly, she has eyes of bright blue. She can open and shut them and she smiles at me too. In the morning I dress her and we go out to play. But I like best to rock her at the end of the day.

Many years ago My grandmother sang this to my daughter. It holds special memories for me too.
Nov 13, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Brown eyed girls NEW
by: Anonymous

My grandma would sing this to us but we all have brown eyes so the line would go she had eyes of bright brown, she can open and shut them then we go into town.
In the morning I dress her and we go out to play but I like best to kiss her (then she smooches you) at the end of the day

I think I prefer the kiss version to the rocking version
Oct 24, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Found a recording of my mom singing this in 1940 NEW
by: Scott

I just found an old homemade Philco recording my mom singing "Dear Little Dolly" around 1940.
Oct 18, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I love this NEW
by: Anonymous

My mother sang this song to me when I was sick. Now when I'm down or not feeling well I catch myself softly singing this song to myself.

I have a dear little dolly
And her eyes are bright blue
She can open and shut them
And she smiles at me too
In the morning I dress her
Then we go out to play
But I like best to rock her
At the close of the day
Feb 26, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		dear little dolly NEW
by: Anonymous

I learned it like this...I have a dear little dolly and her eyes are bright blue. She can open and shut them and she smiles at me too. In the morning I dress her and we go out to play. But the best thing is to rock her at the end of the day. I change it to a boy sometimes. My children love this song!
Feb 28, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dear little dolly
by: Kathleen

On my Mom's deathbed a year ago my dsu g her and I recalled how she sang and taught us that song....we started singing it and she joined in...I'll never forget that moment.
Feb 09, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Try this!
by: Ethel Bunker's granddaughter

Did you know you can find this on YouTube? I entered 'I Have a Dear Dolly", which is how I was taught, and there was a video of a lovely grandma playing this on the piano and singing. It was precious. If you can't find it try "I've a Dear Little Dolly" and it should pop up.

I love that you love this beloved little song.
Feb 09, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Kindergarten Song, 1919-1970
by: Anonymous

The words as I learned them in Kindergarten:

I've a dear little dolly.
She has eyes of bright blue.
She can open and shut them
And she smiles at me, too!

In the morning we wake up
And we go out to play --
But I most like to rock her
At the end of the day.

That was in 1970 or 1971. One day, my grandpa asked me whether I'd been learning any songs at school, so I sang this one. He was shocked and told me that he had learned the same song when HE was in Kindergarten in 1919 or 1920.
Aug 02, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		This is wonderful!
by: Anonymous

Isn't that funny, I use brown eyes sometimes too,so the brown eyed kids can relate. And sometimes I make the dolly a boy.

I follow this song up with "Pony Boy" which you can find on You Tube. It's another Oldie my whole preschool group of 3's and 4's likes at naptime. They like Uncle Wiggily stories too, by the way.

I'm so thrilled these innocent old sons and stories are still enjoyed.
Aug 02, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Third generation!
by: Anonymous

I sang this to my granddaughter last night! My mother sang this to me, I sang it to my children and now it is being sung to my grandaughters. The lyrics I learned are:

I've a dear little dolly
She has eyes of bright blue.
And she opens and shuts them
And she smiles at me too.
In the morning I dress her
And we go out to play
But the most that I love her
Is the close of the day!

Thank you for the variation on brown eyes, as one of my granddaughters has brown eyes and now I can make the song fit her!
Jun 11, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dear Dolly is still loved by children.
by: Anonymous

I learned that song from my Nana in the 1950's. I sing it every day to my preschool class before naptime and they adore it. Their families say they sing it at home. It brings tears to my eyes to hear that other people learned Dear Dolly in their childhood, it reminds me so much of my Nana!
May 29, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I have a dear dolly too!
by: Char

My sister's and I learned this from our Aunt Georgie and her version was:
I have a dear little dolly and her eyes are bright blue, she opens and shuts them and she smiles at me too!
In the morning I dress her and we go out to play, in the evening I rock her at the close of the day.
This was followed by a verse of:
Fa la la la la la la, fa la la la la la, fa la la la la la la, fa la la la la la.
Then we learned another song with the same tune like this: Autumn leave now are falling see them fluttering down, autumn leaves are now are falling red and yellow and brown.
So we would sing it in rounds each singing a different verse and usually very loud so we could stay on the right words, all while riding in the car!! We sang a lot in the car!!
Apr 01, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Passed down for five generations
by: Anonymous

My great grandma used to sing this to my grandma and my grandma to my mom and my mom to me and me to my daughter.
I have a sweet little dolly and her eyes are bright blue,
She can open and shut them and she smile at you too.
In the morning I wake her and we go out to play,
But what I like best is to rock her at the end of the day.
Jan 04, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dolly lullaby
by: Anonymous

My mother sang this and many others to me 50 years ago and I loved it so.Her version to me did say in the morning I wake her rather than dress her but other than that the same.
She also did a variation for my brother. it was:
I've a dear little doggy who has eyes of dark brown. He can open and shut them but he never frowns. In the morning I wake him and we go out to play, but I like best to rock him at the close of the day. He still has that dog 50 years later and his wife has her duck from childhood. They have 2 grown sons and both are college educated and still hold those fond memories.


I
Dec 30, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		5 generations
by: Anonymous

I was just singing this to our granddaughter tonight and thought I would look it up to see if there is information on the origin. This is being sung to the fifth generation that I know about.


I've a dear little dolly and her eyes are bright blue.
She can open and shut them and smiles at me too.
In the morning, I dress her and we go out to play.
But I like best to rock her at the close of the day.
Nov 12, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dear Little Dolly
by: Anonymous

My great grandmother (born 1896) used to sing this to me when I was young! I thought she made it up! At least 5 generations know this tune.
Oct 17, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		I've a Dear Little Dolly
by: Anonymous

This song has been passed down for five generations as far back as I remember. The words as I remember them are:

I've a dear little dolly with eyes of bright blue.
She can open and shut them and smiles at me too.
In the morning, I dress her and we go out to play.
But I like best to rock her at the close of the day.

Note: I've see lyrics that vary slightly. In the morning I "wake" her rather than "dress" her.

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