Lullabies A

A bonny boat

A bushel and a peck

A candle, a candle

A great big smiling moon

A la nanita nana

A sleepy song

A song of fairies

A star for you to wish on

A summer lullaby

Across the river of dreams

All the little ones are sleeping

All the pretty little horses

All through the night

All the world is sleeping / Suo-Gân

Ally bally bee

At the gate of heaven / La puerta del cielo

Last updated: 12/6/2021 12:56 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

You are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the following conditions:

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Your fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.


 

 

A bonny boat 🔊

 

 


The moon as a boat is a common theme around the world.

A poem by Margaret Johnson from ‘A child’s own book of verse’ book 1, published 1917. Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

1. Raise a finger for each number. Cup hands and move gently from side to side. Move hands like waves past each other. 2. Raise a finger for each number. Point to head then self. Continue rocking hands and then shape the sun and move hands as before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


One, two, three!

A bonny boat I see;

A silver boat, and all afloat

Upon a rosy sea.

 

One, two, three!

The riddle tell to me.

The moon afloat is the bonny boat,

The sunset is the sea.


 

 

A bushel and a peck 🔊

 

 


Words and music by Frank Loesser from the musical ‘Guys and Dolls’.

A bit lively for a lullaby but a song to sing to a baby at anytime!

My mother had LPs of all the 1950s musicals and this was one of our favourites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I love you a bushel and peck,

A bushel and peck and a hug around the neck,

A hug around the neck, and a barrel and a heap,

A barrel and a heap, and I'm talking in my sleep,

About you, about you,

‘Cause I love you a bushel and a peck,

You bet your pretty neck, I do.

Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle,

A-doodle, oodle, oodle ooo.

 

I love you a bushel and peck,

A bushel and peck though you make my heart a wreck,

Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess,

Make my life a mess, yes, a mess of happiness,

About you, about you,

‘Cause I love you a bushel and a peck,

You bet your pretty neck, I do.

Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle,

A-doodle, oodle, oodle ooo.

 

I love you a bushel and peck,

A bushel and peck and it beats me all to heck,

Beats me all to heck, how I'll never tend the farm,

Never tend the farm when I wanna keep my arm,

About you, about you,

‘Cause I love you a bushel and a peck,

You bet your pretty neck, I do.

Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle,

A-doodle, oodle, oodle ooo.


 

 

A candle, a candle 🔊

 

 


This rhyme from the ‘Ladybird Favourite Nursery Rhymes’ is not credited to anyone so I presume it is traditional. Music by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A candle, a candle

To light me to bed;

A pillow, a pillow

To tuck up my head.

The moon is as sleepy as sleepy can be,

The stars are all pointing their fingers at me,

And Missus Hop-Robin, way up in her nest,

Is rocking her tired little babies to rest.

So give me a blanket

To tuck up my toes,

And a soft little pillow

To snuggle my nose.


 

 

A great big smiling moon 🔊

 

 


This rhyme from the ‘Ladybird Favourite Nursery Rhymes’ is not credited to anyone so I presume it is traditional. Music by Dany Rosevear.

1. Open and close fists above head. 2. Circle arms around head. 3. Lay forefinger across the palm of the other han, close fingers over it. 4. Rock your palms back and forth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


At night I see the twinkling stars

And a great big smiling moon;

My mummy tucks me into bed

And sings a good-night tune.

La, la. la, la, la, la, la, la, la,

La, la. la, la, la, la, la, la, la.

La, la. la, la, la, la, la, la, la,

La, la. la, la, la, la, la, la, la.

 


 

 

 

A la nanita nana 🔊

 

 


A beautiful Spanish lullaby often sung at Christmas. Change her to him depending on the recipient of the lullaby.  Uses both the minor and major key.

This translation by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A la nanita nana, nanita ea, nanita ea,

mi niña tiene sueño, bendita sea, bendita sea. X2

Lul lullaby, my dear one, it’s time to sleep now, it’s time to sleep now,

My little one is sleepy, oh so sleepy, bless her, bless her. X 2

 

Fuentecita que corre clara y sonora,

ruiseñor que en la selva cantando llora:

calla mientras la cuna se balancea,

a la nanita nana, nanita ea.

Little spring bubbles gaily, so clear and musical,

Nightingale in the forest cries out so plaintively,

“Hush while the cradle’s swaying, swaying soft, to and fro,

Lul lullaby, my dear one, it’s time to sleep now, it’s time to sleep now.


 

 

A sleepy song 🔊

 

 


This tune from a Czech folk song will make you feel very sleepy. These English words are written by Herbert Wiseman for ‘A third sixty songs forlittle children’ published 1960.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I love the grandfather clock:

Hark to its sleepy “tick-tock”,

Drowsy and still in my warm bed I lie,

And I watch the bright stars in the sky.

 

Now the moon’s over the hill,

Even the crickets are still;

But in the corner the grandfather clock

Never ceases its drowsy “tick-tock”.

 


 

 

A song of fairies 🔊

 

 


A song for bedtime. Words and music by C. Horn Irmengarde C. Horn; can be found in ‘Songs of childhood’ published in 1923.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


When the moon comes up so still and bright,

And the stars are in the skies,

Then children know it’s time for bed

And time to close their eyes.

For the fairies wait till you’re asleep

To bring sweet dreams to you,

And the moon and stars through the lattice peep

To see what the fairies do.

 


 

 

A star for you to wish on 🔊

 

 


A dear little bedtime verse for the nightly routine.

 

Draw a star on one hand, draw the sun on the other, draw the moon on the forehead, kiss child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A star for you to wish on,

The sun for warmth and light,

The moon for you to sleep on,

Sweet dreams,

And so goodnight.


 

 

 

A summer lullaby 🔊

 

 


Written by in 1930 by Eudora S. Bumstead these lovely verses can be found in ‘A book of a thousand poems’. It can also be found in ‘Primary music and worship’ published by Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, Philadelphia, Penn., 1930.

The words and title have been changed by others considerably since then to include bees and other ideas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The sun has gone from the shining skies;

Bye, baby, bye,

The dandelions have closed their eyes;

Bye, baby, bye.

The stars are lighting their lamps to see

If babies and squirrels and birds, all three,

Are sound asleep as they ought to be.

Bye, baby, bye.

 

The squirrel keeps warm in a coat of grey;

Bye, baby, bye.

He wears it by night as well as by day;

Bye, baby, bye.

The robin sleeps in his feathers and down,

With a warm red breast and wings of brown;

But baby wears a little white gown.

Bye, baby, bye.

 

The squirrel’s nest is an old oak tree,

Bye, baby, bye,

And there he sleeps as snug as can be,

Bye, baby, bye;

The robin's nest is high overhead,

Where the leafy boughs of maple spread,

But my baby's nest is a little white bed.

Bye, baby, bye.


 

 

Across the river of dreams 🔊

 

 


Time to say goodnight. A lullaby to reassure young children as they settle down at sleep time.

The third verse can easily be adapted: Insert the names of whover is in charge and sleep companions. The music can be repeated several time to include others who are important in a child’s life.

Words and music by Dany Rosevear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Goodnight, lovely moon, goodnight,

Goodnight, little stars, goodnight;

You’re up there we know,

As our dreams come and go,

Singing your sweet lullabies.

 

Chorus:

Hush, hush, hush-bye,

My dear little bird fly,

Across the river of dreams,

Across the river of dreams.

 

Goodnight, story book, goodnight,

Goodnight, songs and poems, goodnight;

Your words and your rhymes,

And your tunes ev’ry time,

Flow through my dreams with delight.

Chorus

 

Goodnight, mother mine, goodnight,

Goodnight, brother mine, goodnight;

Your kindness each day,

Gently shows me the way,

To do what is thoughtful and right.

 

Hush, hush, hush-bye,

My dear little bird fly,

Across the river of dreams,

Across the river of dreams.

 

So a kiss and a cuddle “Sleep tight!”

A kiss and a cuddle “Sleep tight!”


 

 

All the little ones are sleeping O

 

 


A beautiful song written by Jean Ritchie from her album ‘Marching through the Green Grass’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Chorus:

All through the night, all through the night,

All the little ones are sleeping.

All through the night, all through the night,

All the little ones are sleeping.

 

In a hole down underground,

Little bunnies can be found.

Chorus

 

Sparrow sleeps up in a tree,

My warm bed is best for me.

Chorus

 

Bless the babes and beasts and birds,

All small things that have no words.

Chorus


 

 

 

All the pretty little horses O

 

 


There are so many recordings of this song, some quite beautiful:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clqj1j9PrgQ but having sung it often to myself in the 1960s I needed an excuse to play it yet again!

Find out more about this song at:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Pretty_Little_Horses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,

Go to sleep my little baby.

When you wake, you shall have,

All the pretty little horses.

 

Dapples and greys, pintos and bays,

Coach and six-a little horses.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,

Go to sleep my little baby.

 

Way down yonder, in the meadow,

There’s a poor little lambie;

Birds and butterflies flutter round his eyes,

Poor little thing is cryin' "Mamie".

 

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,

Go to sleep my little baby.

When you wake, you shall have,

All the pretty little horses.


 

 

All the world is sleeping / Suo-Gân 🔊

 

 


Another beautiful Welsh lullaby. Find out more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suo_Gân  There are many translations into English, not sure where this first verse originated; the second two were adapted by Dany Rosevear inspired from several sources to keep true to the original Welsh version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Go to sleep upon my breast,

All the world is sleeping.

‘Till the morning's light you'll rest,

Mother watch is keeping.

Birds and beasts have closed their eyes,

All the world is sleeping.

In the morn the sun will rise,

Mother watch is keeping.

 

Sleep my treasure, night is falling,

Rest in slumber, sound and deep;

Can you tell me why you’re smiling,

Smiling sweetly in thy sleep?

Do the angels smile in heaven,

When thy happy smile they see;

Close those eyelids, little darling,

On my breast sleep peacefully.

 

Do not fear, the leaves are trembling,

Tapping, tapping ‘gainst the door;

Do not fear, small waves are breaking,

Lapping, lapping on the shore.

Sleep child well for naught can harm you,

Mother watches by and by

And angels gently gather round you

To sing this lovely lullaby.


 

 

 

All through the night 🔊

 

 


This tune was first recorded in 1784, the Welsh lyrics were written later. Find out more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ar_Hyd_y_Nos  The English lyrics below were beautifully written in Victorian times (1884) by Sir Harold Boulton; they have been very slightly adapted here for a more secular audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Sleep, my love and peace attend thee,

All through the night.

Guardian angels dusk will send thee,

All through the night;

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and vale in slumber steeping,

I, my loving vigil keeping,

All through the night.

 

While the moon her watch is keeping,

All through the night.

While the weary world is sleeping,

All through the night;

As the stars go gently stealing,

Visions of delight revealing,

Breathes a pure and tender feeling,

All through the night.


 

 

Ally bally bee O

 

A lovely Scottish lullaby that I enjoyed singing in the late 1960s. ‘Greetin’ means crying and ‘bawbee’ a penny.

Find out more at: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandssongs/earlyyears/coulterscandy.asp .

Sing the chorus between each verse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Chorus

Ally bally, ally bally bee,

Sittin' on yer mammy's knee,

Greetin' for a wee bawbee,

Tae buy some Coulter's candy.

 

Poor wee soul you’re getting awful thin,

A bundle of bones covered up with skin,

Soon you’ll be gettin' a wee double chin,

From sucking Coulter's candy.

Chorus

 

Ally bally, ally bally bee,

When you grow up you'll go to sea,

Makin' pennies for your daddy and me,

To buy more Coulter's candy

Chorus

 

Off to bed my bonny wee man,

It’s seven o’clock and your playin’s done.

When you rise with the morning sun,

You’ll get some Coulter’s candy.

Chorus

 

 

 


 

 

At the gate of heaven / La puerta del cielo 🔊

 

 


This delightful lullaby from Mexico originally travelled from the Pyrenees region of Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


At the gate of heav’n little shoes they are selling

For the little bare-footed angels there dwelling.

Slumber my little one, slumber my little one,

Slumber my little one, arru, arru.

 

Blessed are the children so peacefully sleeping,

Blessed are the parents whose love they are keeping.

Slumber my little one, slumber my little one,

Slumber my little one, arru, arru.

 

A la puerta del cielo venden zapatos,

Para los angelitos que andan descalzos.

Duermete, niño, Duermete, niño,

Duermete, niño, arru, arru.

 

A los niños que duerman Dios benedice

A las madres que velan Dios las asiste.

Duermete, niño, Duermete, niño,

Duermete, niño, arru, arru.

 


 

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