A Tribute to Lullabies by sallyanne
Lullabies were cooed long before the days of cry-it-out (definition for the unenlightened—CIO=teach your baby to put himself to sleep while he screams in protest and you kindly pat his back intermittently in short increments until he is conditioned to go to sleep without you…). I know this method has a following and I know many of you believe in it. I’m sorry.
I vehemently hate it and I’m afraid it just cries out ‘without natural affection’ to me and I could not do it in good conscience. Sleepytime nurturing just must be in my blood-don’t bother telling me that it will hinder a child going to sleep. Absurdity. Lies. My mother and father and sisters and brothers did the rocking, walking, singing and nursing to sleep for their babies, too. Nurturing. Snuggling. Precious Times.
I do not have one regret about my nighttime nurturing. I do regret our one and only short stint with one of the girls who stopped falling asleep with nursing, singing and walking…we tried to let her teach herself to sleep and it was miserable—she was ten months or so and quite strong willed. She did learn to go to sleep on her own in a manner of speaking, but years later had a hard time falling asleep that the others never had…we nurtured her through that as best we could, but I still had the ‘too little too late’ feeling. If I had to do it over again, I’d just cuddle her until sleep took over—I learned that with her and never left another child to cry.
Our children all share the same natural affection toward babies … nature or nurture? They’ve had both. (Of course, we also did bedtime stories in abundance. Piles and piles of them.)
We did lots and lots of lullabies and other songs. Songs from The Sound of Music and other favorite soundtracks. My dad listened to all that ‘wartime’ music so I also sang songs like from that period.
What is your favorite lullaby? Did you have a special song you sang to your babies? Here are a few lovely traditional lullabies and a few of the others I often sang…I’m sure you all know the hymns so I won’t post them. I’ll have to do a top ten favorite hymn blog soon :)
Appalachian LullabyWell I love my baby sweet and fair
You've got the sky in your eye the sun in your hair
I rock you to sleep most every night and sing you this song
While I hold you tight
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm and your father above
Cradles you in his love safe and warm
Sleep my baby nestled in your mama's arms
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm
My baby you'll be sleepin' soon
Kissed by the golden stars and moon
I have just one wish for you
may your every dream come true
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm and your father above
Cradles you in his love safe and warm
Sleep my baby nestled in your mama's arms
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm
All the Pretty HorsesHush-a-bye don't you cry,
Go to sleep-y, little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Blacks and bays, dapple grays,
Coach and six white horses.
Hush-a-bye don't you cry,
Go to sleep-y, little baby.
Brahm’s LullabyLullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight
Bright angels beside my darling abide
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
Frere JacquesFrere Jacques, Frere Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.
English Version:
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.
Hush, little babyHush, little baby, don't say a word.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover
And if that dog named Rover won't bark
Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Sleep, baby, sleep Sleep, baby, sleep
Your father tends the sheep
Your mother shakes the dreamland tree
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep
The little lamb is on the green
With snowy fleece so soft and clean
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Rock-a-Bye-BabyRock-a-bye baby, in the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all
Golden slumbersGolden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Cares you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While over you a watch I'll keep.
Sleep, pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Day is doneDay is done,
Gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh
The White Cliffs of DoverThere'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
I'll never forget the people I met
braving those angry sky's
I remember well as the shadows fell
the light of hope in thier eyes
and though I'm far away I still can hear them say
Sun's up
for when the dawn comes up
There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
There'll be love and laughter
And peace ever after.
Tomorrow, when the world is free
The shepherd will tend his sheep.
The valley will bloom again.
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again.
There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
I vehemently hate it and I’m afraid it just cries out ‘without natural affection’ to me and I could not do it in good conscience. Sleepytime nurturing just must be in my blood-don’t bother telling me that it will hinder a child going to sleep. Absurdity. Lies. My mother and father and sisters and brothers did the rocking, walking, singing and nursing to sleep for their babies, too. Nurturing. Snuggling. Precious Times.
I do not have one regret about my nighttime nurturing. I do regret our one and only short stint with one of the girls who stopped falling asleep with nursing, singing and walking…we tried to let her teach herself to sleep and it was miserable—she was ten months or so and quite strong willed. She did learn to go to sleep on her own in a manner of speaking, but years later had a hard time falling asleep that the others never had…we nurtured her through that as best we could, but I still had the ‘too little too late’ feeling. If I had to do it over again, I’d just cuddle her until sleep took over—I learned that with her and never left another child to cry.
Our children all share the same natural affection toward babies … nature or nurture? They’ve had both. (Of course, we also did bedtime stories in abundance. Piles and piles of them.)
We did lots and lots of lullabies and other songs. Songs from The Sound of Music and other favorite soundtracks. My dad listened to all that ‘wartime’ music so I also sang songs like from that period.
What is your favorite lullaby? Did you have a special song you sang to your babies? Here are a few lovely traditional lullabies and a few of the others I often sang…I’m sure you all know the hymns so I won’t post them. I’ll have to do a top ten favorite hymn blog soon :)
Appalachian LullabyWell I love my baby sweet and fair
You've got the sky in your eye the sun in your hair
I rock you to sleep most every night and sing you this song
While I hold you tight
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm and your father above
Cradles you in his love safe and warm
Sleep my baby nestled in your mama's arms
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm
My baby you'll be sleepin' soon
Kissed by the golden stars and moon
I have just one wish for you
may your every dream come true
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm and your father above
Cradles you in his love safe and warm
Sleep my baby nestled in your mama's arms
Sleep my baby the angels keep you from harm
All the Pretty HorsesHush-a-bye don't you cry,
Go to sleep-y, little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Blacks and bays, dapple grays,
Coach and six white horses.
Hush-a-bye don't you cry,
Go to sleep-y, little baby.
Brahm’s LullabyLullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight
Bright angels beside my darling abide
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
Frere JacquesFrere Jacques, Frere Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.
English Version:
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing
Ding dang dong, ding dang dong.
Hush, little babyHush, little baby, don't say a word.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull turn over,
Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover
And if that dog named Rover won't bark
Papa's gonna buy you a horse and cart
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Sleep, baby, sleep Sleep, baby, sleep
Your father tends the sheep
Your mother shakes the dreamland tree
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep
The little lamb is on the green
With snowy fleece so soft and clean
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Rock-a-Bye-BabyRock-a-bye baby, in the tree top
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all
Golden slumbersGolden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty baby,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Cares you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While over you a watch I'll keep.
Sleep, pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Day is doneDay is done,
Gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh
The White Cliffs of DoverThere'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
I'll never forget the people I met
braving those angry sky's
I remember well as the shadows fell
the light of hope in thier eyes
and though I'm far away I still can hear them say
Sun's up
for when the dawn comes up
There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.
There'll be love and laughter
And peace ever after.
Tomorrow, when the world is free
The shepherd will tend his sheep.
The valley will bloom again.
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again.
There'll be bluebirds over
The white cliffs of Dover,
Tomorrow, just you wait and see.