Many a year ago in old Sorrento

a certain ditty was quite the thing

Whenever a mother rocked her baby in Sorrento

this little ditty she used to sing:



Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino go to sleep!



Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino go to sleep!



All the stars are in the skies ready to say "goodnight"

can't you see your doll is sleepy, too?

Close your drowsy little eyes, mama will hold you tight

while she sings a lullaby to you:



Oh, chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino go to sleep!



( Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa, and chi-lawa )

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah ( la goombah! )

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino go to sleep!



( Chi, chi, chi-baba! )

Chi, chi, chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah ( la goombah! )

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino go to sleep!



All the stars are in the skies ready to say "goodnight, goodnight"

can't you see your doll is sleepy, too?

Close your drowsy little eyes, mama will hold you tight

while she sings a lullaby to you, ever so sweetly!



Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

An' chi-lawa kook-a la goombah ( la la goombah! chi-baba! )

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino go to sleep!



Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino go to sleep!

Chi-baba, chi-baba, chi-wawa

my bambino . . .

go to sleep!



Music by Al Hoffman, Jerry Livingston

with lyrics by Mack David, 1947