Lullabies
K-M
Kalinka
Kentucky
Babe
Khasi’s
lullaby
Kitty
alone (1)
Kitty
alone (2)
Kumbaya
Lady,
lady
Let
your little wings fly
Little
bear sleeps
Little
children / Mozart’s lullaby
Little
lost angel
Little
red bird
Little
silver boat
Lulla,
lulla
Lulla,
lullaby / A la rurru nińo
Lullabye
/ Like a ship in the harbor
Lullaby
for a baby elephant
Lullaby
for a little bee
Lullaby
loo, lullaby li
Lullay,
my dear
Mama
loves and papa loves
Mama’s
gone to the mailboat
Mammy,
mammy told me-o
Manx
lullaby
Moon
glow, moon glow
Moon,
moon, shiny and silver
Moon
River
Morag’s
cradle song
Mozart’s
lullaby / Sleep, little one
My
owlet
My
rocket ship
Last updated: 7/28/2023
4:27 PM
The songs below are compiled, illustrated and
sometimes adapted by Dany Rosevear
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To listen to music from these
songs click on 🔊
To watch the
author sing a song click on the title at:
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
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Kalinka 🔊 A Russian folk
tune with English words by Thomas Pitfield from Oxford Choral Songs; these
are the words broadcast in the 1970s BBC Schools Programme, ‘Singing
Together’. It was written in 1860 by the composer and folklorist Ivan
Larionov, find out more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinka_(song)
The literal translation is ‘Little snowberry, snowberry, snowberry of mine!
Little raspberry in the garden, my little raspberry!’ One of my
favourite Russian song – nothing can beat the Red Army version which was
recorded long after my grandmother escaped from Russia to Poland during the
Russian revolution! |
Kalinka, Kalinka, Kalinka, my
dear, Your name in the whisper of
pines I can hear, Kalinka, Kalinka, Kalinka my
dear, Your name in the whisper of
pines I can hear. Oh, underneath the pine tree, Green and shady pine tree, Let me linger there and dream. Lullay, lullay, Lullay, lullay, Let me linger there and dream. Oh, green and ruslting pine
tree, Green and tufty pine tree, Let not your murm'rings disturb
my dream. Lullay, lullay, Lullay, lullay, Let not your murm'rings disturb
my dream. Oh, hush, you restless pine
tree, Noble dark, and fine tree, Draw your green coverlet over
me. Lullay, lullay, Lullay, lullay, Draw your green coverlet over
me. |
Kentucky Babe 🔊 One I remember
from my childhood played on my mother’s well worn gramophone – the vinyl LP
got quite scratched from being played. Words by
Richard Henry Buck, music by Adam Geibel. |
Skeeters are a hummin’ on the
honeysuckle vine, Sleep, Kentucky Babe! Sandman is a-comin’ to this
little babe of mine, Sleep, Kentucky Babe! Silv'ry moon is shinin’ in the
heavens up above, Bobolink is pinin’ for his
little lady love, You are mighty lucky, Babe of
old Kentucky, Close your eyes in sleep, Fly away. Fly away, Kentucky Babe, fly
away to rest, Fly away. Lay your little sleepy head on
your mommy's breast, Mmm..Mmm.. Close your eyes in sleep. Close your eyes and sleep. Best be gettin' shady, my lovely
little lady, Close your eyes in sleep. |
Khasi’s lullaby O A beautiful Himalayan lullaby collected
by Mary Rowland; the English words are by Anne Mendoza and can be found in
Thirty Folk Settings for Children published by Curwen 1960. |
Gently rocking, gently rocking, Go to sleep my dearie. Gently rocking, gently rocking, Go to sleep my dearie. Birds are crying, homeward flying, Go to sleep my dearie. Birds are crying, homeward flying, Go to sleep my dearie. Hari cucu, Yari cucu, Hari cucu, ele. Hari cucu, Yari cucu, Hari cucu, ele. Repeat |
Kitty alone O I first came across this lullaby as
‘Bandyrowe’ in Jean Ritchie’s book Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians’. This
Kentucky version ‘Kitty alone’ comes from her album ‘Children’s song and
games from the Southern Mountains’ and was learnt from her sister ‘Kitty’. The format of the lyrics is very
similar to those of ‘Fooba Wooba John’ My recording of that song is at: Fooba Wooba John - a rhyming song -
YouTube. |
Saw a crow a-flying low, Kitty alone, Kitty alone, Saw a crow a-flying low, Kitty alone, a-lye, Saw a crow a-flying low and a cat a-spinning tow, Kitty alone, a-lye; Rock-uma- rye-a-ree. In came a little bat, Kitty alone, Kitty alone, In came a little bat, Kitty alone, a-lye, In came a little bat with some butter and some fat, Kitty alone, a-lye; Rock-uma- rye-a-ree. Next came in was a honeybee, Kitty alone, Kitty
alone, Next came in was a honeybee, Kitty alone, a-lye, Next came in was a honeybee with a fiddle across his
knee, Kitty alone, a-lye; Rock-uma- rye-a-ree. Next came in was little Pete, , Kitty alone, Kitty alone, Next came in was little Pete, Kitty alone, a-lye, Next came in was little Pete fixing for to go to
sleep, Kitty alone, a-lye; Rock-uma- rye-a-ree. Bee-o, bye-o, baby-o, Kitty alone, Kitty alone, Bee-o, bye-o, baby-o, Kitty
alone, a-lye, Bee-o, bye-o, baby-o, bye-o,
bee-o, baby-o, Kitty alone, a-lye; Rock-uma-rye-a-ree. |
Kitty alone (2) 🔊 A lullaby from North Carolina. This version of ‘Kitty alone’ is
much more recognizable as a cradle song. It can be found in the ‘Collection
of North Carolina Folklore’ collected by Dr. Frank C. Brown between 1912 to
1943. https://archive.org/details/frankcbrowncolle03fran/page/148/mode/2up
Kitty alone - an
Appalachian lullaby - YouTube You can find the more familiar version
above. |
Saw a crow a-flyin’ low, Kitty alone, kitty alone, Saw a crow a-flyin’ low, Kitty alone, alee, Saw a crow a-flyin’ low And a cat a-spinnin’ tow. Rockabye baby bye; rockabye baby bee. Saw a red cloud in the sky, Kitty alone, kitty alone, Saw a red cloud in the sky, Kitty alone, alee, Saw a red cloud in the sky, And a star a-sailin’ by. Rockabye baby bye; rockabye baby bee. Saw the moon in the river bed, Kitty alone, kitty alone, Saw the moon in the river bed, Kitty alone, alee, Saw the moon in the river bed Big black frog swam over her head. Rockabye baby bye; rockabye baby bee. Saw an owl in a hickory tree, Kitty alone, kitty alone, Saw an owl in a hickory tree, Kitty alone, alee, Saw an owl in a hickory tree, Big owl eyes a-lookin’ at me. Rockabye baby bye; rockabye baby bee. |
Kumbaya O In the 1960s –
70s this song was often heard in primary classrooms and also round the
campfire, usually as ‘Kumbaya, my
Lord, Kumbaya’ - Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez among others sang this version.
I have chosen a secular translation from the Swedish found in ‘Songs that
children sing’ compiled and edited by Eleanor Croman. This lullaby
comes from Africa, possibly the Congo, but very little is known about its
origins. What I do know is that it is a very effective lullaby as my baby
grandson fell asleep in no time at all as I sang! |
Kumbaya,
ya, kumbaya. Kumbaya,
ya, kumbaya. Kumbaya,
ya, kumbaya. Ah, ah,
kumbaya, Ah, ah, kumbaya. Night is coming, Kumbaya, Night is coming, Kumbaya, Ah, ah, kumbaya, Ah, ah, kumbaya. Moon is shining, Kumbaya… Stars are twinkling, Kumbaya… Children sleeping, Kumbaya… |
Lady, lady 🔊 A lullaby for
rocking baby to sleep. Move child in arms from side to side, lower and
raise arms, resume rocking. |
Lady, lady, Buy a broom for my baby. Sweep it low, sweep it high, Sweep the cobwebs out of the
sky. Lady, lady, Buy a broom for my baby. |
Let your little wings fly 🔊 A lullaby for dreamers, take wing
and fly. How lovely to watch the moon and
stars before bedtime and follow their paths when we can. When I was young I was convinced I
could fly, I was prone to sleepwalking and vivid dreams. My aunt encouraged
my belief by telling me my shoulder blades were wing buds that only grew at
nighttime. Dreaming it is possible to fly is a
very common one. Growing wings can also be a metaphor for the power of
change. Through life we can alter our definition of self in our ways of
living and by positive thinking. And one way to start doing this is to use
our imagination. Words and music by Dany Rosevear. |
See the moon a-shining in the dark sky, Watch the stars a-twink’ling overhead, overhead. The stars are daisies, the moon turns hazy, It sings, “Hush now, it’s time for bed!” It sings, “Hush now, it’s time for bed!” Hear the moon a-whisp’ring to me, “Sweet dreams!” Snuggle up in slumber, close your eyes, close your
eyes.” It sees me sleeping when the stars come peeping, Singing, “Dear child, let your little wings fly!” Singing, “Dear child, let your little wings fly!” La, la la la, la la, la la, la la, La, la la la, la la, la la, la, La la la! It sees me sleeping when the stars come peeping, Singing, “Dear child, let your little wings fly!” x2 |
Little bear sleeps 🔊 Most of Mother
Earth’s creatures have somewhere to sleep, us included. A poem by
Margaret Hillert, 1920 –2014, an American author, poet and educator from
Michigan USA. Music by Dany Rosevear. |
Little bear sleeps in the woods,
in the woods. Little gull sleeps on the sea. Little colt sleeps in a big, big
field. Little squirrel sleeps in a
tree. Small fox sleep in a den, in a
den. A hive is the place for a bee. But here am I in my very own
bed, And that's the best place for
me. |
Little children / Mozart's Lullaby 🔊 A beautiful, simple
tune composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791. |
Little children, tiny children, So tired and so sleepy. Weary children, drowsy children, To dreamland will go. In their bed with downy pillows, The children's heads rest on. Sleepy children, weary children, To dreamland have gone. |
Little lost angel 🔊 For those that have lost
their way; may they meet a generous spirit. Burl Ives recorded this on an
album of folk lullabies in the early 1960's. Several of the songs like
‘Little lost angel’ can only be found on this album. |
|
A lullaby from the Isle of Man. You can find many more verses on the internet where you can also hear
it sung beautifully in Manx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0pnuno8Aew. You could easily make up your own verses - where else might the little
bird sleep?
|
Little silver moon 🔊 A Chinese folk
song. Cup hands and move gently from side to side. Make
fingers twinkle. Continue rocking hands and then place on cheek. |
Little silver moon rides the sky
like a boat, Past the twinkling stars it will
float, lightly float Sail little moon boat to the
west, Sail little moon boat while I
rest. Xiao yin chuan Yeher wahn wahn
shiang ee tiow troon qua tien shung. Troon qua sheen sheen tah ee
rahn cheen, ying piau dahng. Yahng fahng shiang sho she fahng
hahng. Chiah shiao shiao yeen troon wah
ahn shung. |
Lulla, lulla O A gentle Russian lullaby.
|
Lulla lullaby / A la rurru nińo 🔊 A folk song
from Mexico. The English version is by Vernon Muroz |
Hush, my little baby, Close your sleepy eyes; I will sing a song for you, Lulla, lullaby. See the little sparrow, Flying up so high As he plays among the clouds, Lulla, lullaby. Like the little sparrow, Spread your wings and fly, To the land of happy dreams, Lulla, lullaby. A la rurru nińo, A la rurru ya. Duérmete mi nińo, Y duérmete ya. |
Lullaby for a baby elephant 🔊 ‘Elefantens-vuggevise’
is one of the most beloved lullabies in Demark and is still sung in many
homes at bedtime. I came across it in the Danish drama ‘Ride upon the storm’
about a family in conflict who gather round the baby to sing. It was written
by Harald Andreas Hartvig Lund in 1948. The melody was composed by Mogens
Jermiin Nissen. The translation here by Dany Rosevear hopefully keeps faith
with the original Danish version with a tiny bit of imaginative tweaking to
complement the music. |
The stars are lit up in the dark
blue sky, The crescent moon raises its
sabre. I will keep watch so the naughty
mice Don’t sneak into your tiny
trunk, dear. Sleep tight, little Jumbo, in
your sky cradle, Darkness is falling on the
forest, Old auntie ostrich is fast
asleep And uncle rhino snores softly. Now in your sweet dreams hear
the wildebeest call, In thickets of twining lianas, And chattering monkeys sing
themselves to sleep In a cradle of the greenest
bananas. Sleep tight, little Jumbo, my
darling fellow, You’ll want for nothing, my dear
one; Tomorrow I'll find you a
coconut, It will make the noisiest
rattle. A zebra puts on his black and
white striped, Pyjamas all ready for sleeping, A flying squirrel with fluffy
legs, Sits out in the dark gently
squeaking. Sleep tight, little Jumbo, have
you eaten well? You know nothing of a poor
mother’s trials; A small plantation of one
thousand reeds That has to be picked by
tomorrow. Just listen, the tiger roars its
evensong, It looks round in every
direction. And in the midstream, with his
claws so sharp Black panther steals by, all
attention. Sleep silent, young Jumbo, my
sweet little mite, You’re my dearest, my cutest
little beetroot, You asked me to tell you a
fairytale But you’re sleeping soundly
already! |
This little
prayer / lullaby encapsulates some of those things we wish for our children,
‘seeds of love’ we would gladly bestow on them. Words
and music by Dany Rosevear. |
Be busy, be happy, Be the very best you can. Be wild my child, Be full of life, Explore and learn and
plan. Be helpful, be caring, To all that fly your way. And together then, As the summer ends Make honey every day. No hurry, don’t worry, Just be all you’re meant
to be. The sun’s in the West, The flow’rs at rest, Sleep softly my sweet
honeybee. |
Lullaby loo, lullaby li 🔊 Time for sleep
and dreams of nursery rhymes. Words and
music by Dany Rosevear. |
Lullaby loo, lullaby li, Lullaby low, lullaby high. Lullaby lambs count the lullaby
sheep, Lullaby rock, little baby to
sleep. Lullaby meadows, lullaby
streams, Lullaby clouds, lullaby dreams. Lullaby waltzing with Little Bo
Peep, Lullaby rock, little baby to
sleep. |
Lullabye / Like a ship in the harbor 🔊 A beautiful
comforting lullaby. This wonderful song was written by Chris Williamson: find
out more about her impressive achievements at: https://www.criswilliamson.com/ |
Like
a ship in the harbor, like a mother and child, Like a light in the darkness, I'll hold you a while. We'll rock on the water, I'll cradle you deep, And hold you while angels sing you to sleep. |
Lullay, my dear 🔊 This is a lullaby collected by H. Fleetwood Shepherd from ‘Songs of the West: Folk songs of Devon and Cornwall collected from the mouths of people’. It was sung by a nurse, Anne Bickle of Bratton Clovelly, about 1842 and recalled some time later. I have changed the timing from 3/8 to 2/4 to make it sound more like a lullaby. |
Sleep, baby, sleep! Father’s not near, Tossed on the deep, Lullay, my dear! Moon shining bright, Soft drops the dew. Owls hoot all night, To-whit-to-whoo! Sleep, baby, sleep! Father’s away, Tossed on the deep, Looking for day. In the hedge-row Glow-worms alight, Rivulets flow, All through the night. Sleep, baby, sleep! Father’s afar, Tossed on the deep, Watching a star. Clock going ‘Tick, Tock!’ in the dark. On the hearth, ‘Click!’ Dies the last spark. Sleep, baby, sleep! What! not a wink! Father’s on the deep, What will he think? Baby dear, soon Daddy will come, Bringing red shoes For baby at home. |
Mama loves and papa loves 🔊 A Southern
American lullaby for rocking baby to sleep. Arranged and adapted by Dany
Rosevear. Insert other
family members names into this song especially if older brothers and sisters
are present. |
Mama loves and papa loves, And everybody loves the little
baby. Go to sleepy, go to sleepy, Go to sleep my little baby. |
Mama’s gone to the mailboat 🔊 Collected from
Tina Russell, Marvells Inlet, South Carolina, by John and Alan Lomax.
Originally got this one is from ‘Songs to grow on’ by Beatrix Landeck
published 1950. |
Bye-o baby, bye-o. Bye-o baby, bye, Mama’s gone to the mail boat, Mama’s gone to the mail boat, Bye. Close your sleepy eyes, Close your sleepy eyes, Papa’s gone to the mail boat, Papa’s gone to the mail boat, Bye-o-bye. Bye-o-bye. |
Mammy, mammy told me-o 🔊 Music,
possibly from Ireland, to lull baby to sleep. What parent doesn’t believe
that their baby is the best, the cleverest and the most wonderful one in the
world. The second
verse is adapted by Dany Rosevear (grandparents’ licence!) from the
Afro-American tradition which in turn links with European nursery rhymes of
yore. |
Mammy, mammy told me-o, I'm the sweetest little baby in
the country-o. I looked in the glass and found
it so, Just as mammy told me-o. Sheep's in the meadow a-mowing
the hay. Honey's in the bee-gum, so they
say. I'm the sweetest little baby in
the country-o. Mammy an' daddy both told me so. |
Manx lullaby 🔊 A song from
the Isle of Man, find out more about the music from this island nation at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_the_Isle_of_Man
‘O horo hi ri ri’
are just sounds to soothe a baby, while ‘Cadul gu lo’ means ‘keep sleeping /
sleep soundly’. It is pronounced ‘Cajool goo low’. |
O hush thee my dove, O hush
thee, my rowan, O hush thee my lapwing, my
little brown bird. O hush thee my dove, O hush
thee, my rowan, O hush thee my lapwing, my
little brown bird. O fold thy wings and seek thy
nest now, O shine the berry on the bright
tree, The bird is home from the
mountain and valley. O horo hi ri ri, Cadul gu lo. O horo hi ri ri, Cadul gu lo. |
Moon glow, moon glow O This rhyme by
Margaret Timmons is sometimes sung to the tune of ‘Twinkle, twinkle little
star’. Dany Rosevear wrote the melody below. |
Moon glow, moon glow, in the
night, Moon glow, moon glow, gentle
light. How I love to see you there, Softly shining everywhere. Moon glow, moon glow, in the
night, Moon glow, moon glow, gentle
light. |
Moon, moon, shiny and silver 🔊 This lovely
song comes from ‘Here and Now Story Book’ by Lucy Sprague Mitchell published
in 1921. The tune is a German folk song ‘Du, du, liegst mir im herzen’ which
has been sung by Marlene Deitrich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ9VYpxKtFk
It also featured
on ABC Playschool in the 1980s. |
Moon, moon, shiny and silver, Moon, moon, silver and white; Moon, moon, whisper to children, “Sleep through the silvery
night. There, there, there, there, Sleep through the silvery
night.” Sun, sun, shining and golden, Sun, sun, golden and gay. Sun, sun, shout to the children, “Wake to the sunshiny day. There, there, there, there, Wake to the sunshiny day.” Moon! Sun! Shiny and silver, Moon! Sun! Shiny and gold. Moon! Sun! Shine on the young
ones, Shine until they grow old. Shine, shine, shine, shine, Shine until they grow old. |
Moon River 🔊 Though written
as a romantic love song its gentle tones make it perfect as a lullaby. This
song was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie ‘Breakfast
at Tiffanys’ and was very popular at this time. Composed by
Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. |
Moon
River, wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style some day. Old dream maker, you heart breaker, Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way. Two drifters, off to see the world, There's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same rainbow's end, Waitin' 'round the bend, My huckleberry friend, Moon River and me. |
Morag’s cradle song 🔊 A Scottish
lullaby. |
Would you were here, my little
one, Would you were here, my joy my
treasure, Would you were here, my little
one. Blue her eye, as skies in
summer, Sweet her smile as flowers
blooming. Soft her cheek, as eider down
is, Warm and soft her arms
entwining. Gaze, I seaward in the gloaming, Gaze, I skyward sad and weary. |
Mozart’s lullaby / Sleep, little one 🔊 A lullaby originally
attributed to W. A. Mozart but according to the ‘Singing Bell’ the tune is now thought to be written by Bernhard Flies or Johann
Friedrich Anton Fleischmann and the words by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter,
1746–1797. |
Sleep, little one, go to sleep. So peaceful the birds and the
sheep, Quiet are meadow and trees, Even the buzz of the bees, The silvery moonbeams so bright, Down through the window give
light, O’er you the moonbeams will
creep, Sleep, little one, go to sleep. Good night, good night. |
My owlet 🔊
A Kiowa Native
American lullaby. The term ‘owlet’ is
a form of endearment. Mother carefully straps baby on her back and sways
gently back and forth as she sings baby to sleep to the rhythmic pattern. |
Owlet, my owlet is sleeping, Wee stars are twinkling in the sky, Owlet, my owlet is sleeping, Mother is singing a lullaby. Owlet, my owlet is sleeping, Wee stars are twinkling in the sky, Owlet, my owlet is sleeping, Father is singing a lullaby. |
My rocket ship O This song
comes from ‘Singing Fun’ 1962 and was written by Lucille F. Wood who also
wrote the kindergarten standard ‘Five little firemen’. |
I’d like to go up in a rocket
ship And some day very soon. I’ll fly through space and touch
the stars As we sail to the moon. I’ll eat my lunch with the man
in the moon, He’s a kind old man it’s said, But when night comes I’ll sail
right back And sleep in my own little bed. |
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