Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This chapter draws attention to “Baby” as a longtime familiar term of address and endearment between grownups in pop song lyrics. Taking its cue from the common English word baby for infant, pop song Baby is a quintessential Americanism, and a product of the nineteenth century. The chapter builds a timeline, identifies key players in the process of transition, and cracks the codes innate in the term. Baby first emerged in the titles of instrumental dance music pieces for the budding U.S. sheet music market, and in songs for the minstrel stage. Broadway and Tin Pan Alley developed Baby into a mainstream image of female sexiness. Hence the dictionary’s explanation of Baby as pretty girl. An alternative Baby first manifested itself in the parallel world of unwritten “blues” lyrics, where it stood for lover, of any gender. The creative and commercial alignment of historically segregated strands of American popular music resulted in a prominent place for Baby in global pop. This chapter restores the forgotten foundations of an iconic figure.</jats:p>