The most effective lullabies do not come from a recording; they are sung or
hummed by a parent to the child.
The parent's voice quality is unimportant. Rather, it is the closeness of a
child held next to the parent,
hearing the voice of the most important person in that child's world, caring
enough about his/her wellbeing to croon a soothing calm.
The words to the lullabies on Sweet Dreams are here for your use.
Please understand that many of them are traditional tunes, passed on in the oral
tradition,
and may be different than versions you find printed elsewhere. Make up your own
words, if you wish!
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SKIDAMARINK Skidamarink a-dink a-dink, skidamarink a-doo, I love you.
Skidamarink a-dink a-dink, skidamarink a-doo, I love you. I love you in the evening and underneath the moon, oh, Skidamarink a-dink a-dink, skidamarink a-doo, I love you.
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LAVENDER’S BLUE Lavender’s blue, dilly dilly, lavender’s green, When I am king, dilly dilly, you’ll be my queen. Who told you so, dilly dilly, who told you so? ‘Twas my own heart, dilly dilly, that told me so!
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FOR JOSHUA (no lyrics; tune written for a grandchild)
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SETH, CHILD OF JOY (no lyrics; tune written for a grandchild)
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MY LITTLE WELSH HOME (lyrics unknown)
SUO GAN
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FAIS DODO Fais dodo, Colas, mon p’tit frère Go to sleep, Colas, my little brother Fais dodo, t’auras du lolo Go to sleep and you will have some milk Maman es en haut qui fait du gateau Mama is upstairs making a cake Papa est en bas qui fait du chocolat Papa is downstairs making chocolate Fais dodo, Colas, mon p’tit frère Go to sleep, Colas, my little brother Fais dodo, t’auras du lolo Go to sleep and you will have some milk
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DRINK TO ME ONLY (words by Ben Johnson, 1616) Drink to me only with thine eyes, and I will pledge with mine. Or leave a kiss within the cup, and I’ll not ask for wine. The thirst that from the soul doth rise, doth ask a drink divine; But might I of Jove’s nectar sip, I would not change for thine.
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SCHLAF, KINDLEIN, SCHLAF Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf Sleep, baby, sleep, Der Vater hüt’t die Schaf Thy father tends the sheep. Die Mutter schüttelt’s Bäumelein, Thy mother shakes the branches small, Da fällt herab ein Träumelein. Lovely dreams in showers fall. Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf! Sleep, baby, sleep,
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TOORA LOORA LOORA Toora loora loora, toora loora lie, Toora loora loora, hush now, don’t you cry. Toora loora loora, toora loora lie, Toora loora loora, that’s an Irish lullaby!
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HOME ON THE RANGE (lyrics by John Lomax, 1910) Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day. Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope play, Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.
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ELEGY
FOR ARYN (no lyrics; tune written for a grandchild who
died before birth) |
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LONG, LONG AGO Tell me the tales that to me were so dear Long, long ago, long, long ago. Sing me the songs I delight in to hear Long, long ago, long ago Now you are come all my fears are removed Let me forget for how long you have roved. Let me believe that you love as you loved Long, long ago, long ago.
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ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE HORSES Go to sleepy little baby. When you wake, you shall have cake, And all the pretty little horses. Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, Go to sleepy little baby, Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry, Go to sleepy little baby.
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HUSH LITTLE BABY Hush, little baby, don’t say a word Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And
if that mockingbird don’t sing, If that diamond ring turns brass, Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass. If that looking glass gets broke, Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat. If that billy goat won’t pull, Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull. If that cart and bull turn over, Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover. If that dog named Rover won’t bark, Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart. If that horse and cart fall down, You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
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A BLESSING FOR ISAAC (no lyrics; song written for a grandchild)
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee; Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day, Lulled by the moonlight have all passed away. Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song, List while I woo thee with soft melody; Gone are the cares of life’s bus throng, Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
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ROCKABYE BABY Rockabye baby, in the treetop When the wind blows, the cradle will rock When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall And down will come baby, cradle and all.
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I SEE THE MOON I see the moon and the moon sees me And the moon sees somebody I’d like to see. God bless the moon and God bless me, And God bless the somebody I’d like to see.
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NEN, NEN, KORORIYO Nen nen kororiyo okororiyo Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep Boyawa yoikoda nenneshina Be good, baby, now go to sleep Boyano amoriwa dokoeitta Do you know where your nurse has gone? Anoyama koete satoeitta Gone to her village across the mountain far away. Neyano omiyage nani morata What will she bring baby from yonder town? Denden taikoni sho no fue A lovely flute and a thunder-sounding drum.
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SAKURA Sakura, sakura Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, No-yama mo sato mo On Meadow-hills and mountains Mi-watasu kagiri As far as you can see. Kasumi ka kumo ka Is it a mist, or clouds? Asahi ni niou Fragrant in the morning sun. Sakura, sakura Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, Hana-zakari Flowers in full bloom.
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DREMA (no known lyrics) |
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CHRIST CHILD LULLABY
My love, my pride, my treasure oh |
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