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sorcyressOne of those those things that I apparently *really* like doing, despite not really getting a chance to much of ever, is sing lullabies.
So, on the rare (generally babysitting) occasion where I *do* get to croon, I tend to go all out, and sing whatever I think fits. Often, they're songs from evening circle at Wyo --when everyone would stand in a nice big circle and hold hands and sing pretty little songs to calm down some before bed-- but disuse has caused the lyrics to many of those to slip completely out of my mind.
In the interest of at least having the lyrics around for the future, here's a bunch of lullabies:
Songs that I know all (or enough of) the lyrics to:
Holderkin Sheep Song
Silly Sheep
Go to sleep
We will watch around you keep
Though the night be dark and deep
Nothing past us dares to creep
Go to sleep
Wooly Heads
Have no dreads
Though we'd rather seek our beds
And our eyes are full of leads
And we long for hearths and steads
Wooly heads
Do not fear
We are here
Though the night be dark and dreer
Lacking in all warmth and cheer
'Til the morn again draws near
We are here
In the night
Stars shine bright
And the moon is at her height
Lending us her little light
There is naught for fear nor fright
Stars shine bright
With the day
We'll away
Leaving you to greet the day
Other shepards watch you play
Keep you safe from all that prey
We'll away
Silly sheep
Go to sleep
We will watch around you keep
Though the night be dark and deep
Nothing past us dares to creep
Go to sleep
(This is the song that mom used to sing to me and Nik and Aly1 when we were young and hurt or scared or sick. It is still, without a doubt, my favourite lullaby.)
Circle Game
Yesterday a child went out to wander
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful, as the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
CHORUS:
And the seasons
They go round and round
And the painted ponies
Go up and down
We're captive on a carousel of Time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Now the child's gone ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like "When you're older" must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
CHORUS
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to cartwheels through the town
And they tell him, "take your time, it won't be long now
'Til you drag your feet to slow the circle down"
CHORUS
Years go by and now the child is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams, and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
CHORUS
(Apparently, this is by a woman called Joni Mitchell. I'm unsurprised --Wyo lifted loads and loads of songs. Doesn't make it any less pretty)
Tin Soldier
Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley far below.
On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the stone,
And the valley-people swore
They'd have it for their very own.
CHORUS:
Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.
So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold for which they'd kill.
Came an answer from the kingdom,
"With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there."
CHORUS
Now the valley cried with anger,
"Mount your horses! Draw your sword!"
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.
CHORUS
(I know full well that this belongs to someone else originally as well, but it's totally a Wyo song, and the first time I heard it, I made someone write down the lyrics for me. I know now it's a bit trite, shuddup, I was thirteen.)
Oh-ley-oh-bla-di-da
There are suitors at my door (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Six or eight or even more (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And my father wish me wed (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Or at least that's what he said (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
CHORUS:
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
So I told him that I will (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
When the rivers run uphill (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And the fish begin to fly (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
On the day before I die (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
CHORUS
And I went against my will (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And the rivers ran uphill (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And the fish began to fly (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
So tomorrow I must die (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
CHORUS
(I feel that this is the appropriate point to mention that the last summer I spent at Wyo was 2004. For all I know, I might be delusional enough to be making up songs *completely* Butyeah.)
Rose, Rose
(This is meant to be sung as a round)
Rose, rose, rose, rose
Will I ever see thee Wed
I will marry at thy will, sire
At thy will
Ding dong, ding dong
Wedding bells on an April morn
Carve my name on a moss covered stone
A moss covered stone
Love, love, love, love
God's message to this world is love
Love thy neighbor as thyself
For God loves us all.
(And I've heard other variations over the years. You probably have too. I *know* this one didn't start with Wyo)
Dona
On a wagon, bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye
Far above him flys a swallow
Swooping swiftly through the sky
CHORUS:
All the winds are laughing
They laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through and
Half a summer's night
Dona dona
Dona dona dona, do-o-na
Dona-dona-dona-do-o-o
Dona dona dona do-o-na
Dona dona dona do-o
"Quit complaining" says the farmer
"Who told you a calf to be?
Why don't you have wings to fly with?
Like the swallow so proud and free"
CHORUS
Calfs are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever values freedom
Like the swallow must learn to fly
CHORUS
(Depressing? Oh hells yes. It's also one of the absolute prettiest songs I've ever heard --the melody right around "half a summer's night" is just gorgeous, especially when sung by fifty people all at once. Also, this song is why I'm making this post --I couldn't remember anything about it except the title, up to and including the melody, until I throughly racked my brains. Luckily, then it came back all at once)
Blackbird
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise, oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
(*shrugs* I don't really have a lot to say. I like the version Evan Rachel Wood sings in Across the Universe a LOT)
The Babysitter's Here
Tonight was just great
She taught us the sign for peace
Now she made us some popcorn and turned off the lights
And we're watching movies
And I don't understand, so she tries to explain
How a spaceship is flying through somebody's brain
And there's blood and guts, ew
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair and she's tall as my dad
And she tye-dyed my shirt and she pierced her own ear
And it's Peace man, cool, yeah
The babysitter's here
Her boyfriend is Tom but we call him the king of romance
He wears an American flag on the butt of his ripped up pants
And will they get married with kids of their own
He says not if she's going to college we won't
And he kisses her, oh
-Someday I'll have a boyfriend just like that
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair and she's tall as my dad
And she got mad at dinner, when Tom drank a beer
But peace man, cool, hey
The babysitter's here
And we all went to see her go dance at the high school
We made her a big card
And she told us that she'd be the unicorn
Wearing the pink leotard and
There she was leaping up just like she said
With a sparkling horn coming out of her head
And she's up, oh, up-oh...
I can't wait to give her the card
I can't wait to give her the card
Okay, so, the play was called 'The Unicorn'
And she was the unicorn
So that means that the star was...
My babysitter!
And it's Saturday night, I can't sleep
And we're watching the news
She says "Do me a favour, don't go with a guy
Who will make you choose" and
I don't understand and she tries to explain
And all that mascara runs down in her pain2
'Cause she's leaving me, oh
You're the best one that we've ever had
You sit on your hair and you're tall as my dad
And I'll make you a picture
For college next year
So hush, now
Peace, man
The babysitter's here
The best babysitter's here
(Umyeah. This is a Wyo song first and foremost --my first year at Wyo, one of the counselers in my duplex used to sing us to sleep each night. This is one of the songs she would sing. It's by Dar Williams, and the moment where I first got to hear it again was just magnificent.)
Lullaby
Night night
It's time for bye-byes
It's been a great day, thanks a heap
But now it's time
For everyone
To go to sleep
(Just the one stanza out of it, really. And seriously, this is just so I can sing it to my kids on occasion when they are small. Someday, just when they've forgotten it, they'll wind up watching Shock Treatment, and hearing that song mom used to sing them to sleep with. I anticipate a just *wonderful* phone call.)
Lullaby for a Stormy Night
Little Child
Be not afraid
The rain pounds harsh against the glass
Like an unwanted stranger
There is no danger
I'm here tonight
Little child
Be not afraid
The thunder explodes and lightning flash
Illuminates
Your tearstained face
I'm here tonight
CHORUS:
And someday you'll know
That nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you'll see
In the morning
Little child
Be not afraid
The storm clouds mask a beloved moon
And its candlelight beams
So keep pleasant dreams
I'm here tonight
Little child
Be not afraid
The wind makes creatures of our trees
And the branches to hands
They're not real understand
I'm here tonight
CHORUS
For you know
Once even I was
A little child
And I was afraid
But a gentle someone always came
To dry all my tears
Trade sweet sleep for fears
And to give a kiss goodnight
Oh now I am grown
And these years have shown
Rains a part of how life goes
But it's dark and it's late
So I'll hold you and wait
'Til your frightened eyes do close
And I hope that you know
That nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you'll see
In the morning
Everything's fine in the morning
The rain'll be gone in the morning
But I'll/you'll still be here in the morning.
(This is my fourth most played song, the only song I've currently got rated three stars, and very likely what catapulted Vienna Teng from good to goddesslike. This song is comfort personified. I don't listen to it nearly as much as I used to, but it tends to run through my head when I need it to.)
These aren't all the songs I sing, but they're a significant portion. And they are all beautiful. If you ask me sometime, I am willing to croon any of these out. I assure you, my voice is not anything resembling great, butyeah, still willing.
~Sor
MOOP!
(2/12)
1: Technically should be Nik and Aly and me, but the scansion is less effective, I think.
2: This is one of my favourite lyrics from any song ever. Just chilling in it's beauty
So, on the rare (generally babysitting) occasion where I *do* get to croon, I tend to go all out, and sing whatever I think fits. Often, they're songs from evening circle at Wyo --when everyone would stand in a nice big circle and hold hands and sing pretty little songs to calm down some before bed-- but disuse has caused the lyrics to many of those to slip completely out of my mind.
In the interest of at least having the lyrics around for the future, here's a bunch of lullabies:
Songs that I know all (or enough of) the lyrics to:
Holderkin Sheep Song
Silly Sheep
Go to sleep
We will watch around you keep
Though the night be dark and deep
Nothing past us dares to creep
Go to sleep
Wooly Heads
Have no dreads
Though we'd rather seek our beds
And our eyes are full of leads
And we long for hearths and steads
Wooly heads
Do not fear
We are here
Though the night be dark and dreer
Lacking in all warmth and cheer
'Til the morn again draws near
We are here
In the night
Stars shine bright
And the moon is at her height
Lending us her little light
There is naught for fear nor fright
Stars shine bright
With the day
We'll away
Leaving you to greet the day
Other shepards watch you play
Keep you safe from all that prey
We'll away
Silly sheep
Go to sleep
We will watch around you keep
Though the night be dark and deep
Nothing past us dares to creep
Go to sleep
(This is the song that mom used to sing to me and Nik and Aly1 when we were young and hurt or scared or sick. It is still, without a doubt, my favourite lullaby.)
Circle Game
Yesterday a child went out to wander
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful, as the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
CHORUS:
And the seasons
They go round and round
And the painted ponies
Go up and down
We're captive on a carousel of Time
We can't return, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
Now the child's gone ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like "When you're older" must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
CHORUS
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to cartwheels through the town
And they tell him, "take your time, it won't be long now
'Til you drag your feet to slow the circle down"
CHORUS
Years go by and now the child is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams, and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
CHORUS
(Apparently, this is by a woman called Joni Mitchell. I'm unsurprised --Wyo lifted loads and loads of songs. Doesn't make it any less pretty)
Tin Soldier
Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley far below.
On the mountain was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the stone,
And the valley-people swore
They'd have it for their very own.
CHORUS:
Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after....
One tin soldier rides away.
So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold for which they'd kill.
Came an answer from the kingdom,
"With our brothers we will share
All the secrets of our mountain,
All the riches buried there."
CHORUS
Now the valley cried with anger,
"Mount your horses! Draw your sword!"
And they killed the mountain-people,
So they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it...
"Peace on Earth" was all it said.
CHORUS
(I know full well that this belongs to someone else originally as well, but it's totally a Wyo song, and the first time I heard it, I made someone write down the lyrics for me. I know now it's a bit trite, shuddup, I was thirteen.)
Oh-ley-oh-bla-di-da
There are suitors at my door (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Six or eight or even more (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And my father wish me wed (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Or at least that's what he said (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
CHORUS:
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
Oh-ley oh-la (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
So I told him that I will (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
When the rivers run uphill (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And the fish begin to fly (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
On the day before I die (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
CHORUS
And I went against my will (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And the rivers ran uphill (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
And the fish began to fly (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
So tomorrow I must die (Oh-ley oh-bla-di-da)
CHORUS
(I feel that this is the appropriate point to mention that the last summer I spent at Wyo was 2004. For all I know, I might be delusional enough to be making up songs *completely* Butyeah.)
Rose, Rose
(This is meant to be sung as a round)
Rose, rose, rose, rose
Will I ever see thee Wed
I will marry at thy will, sire
At thy will
Ding dong, ding dong
Wedding bells on an April morn
Carve my name on a moss covered stone
A moss covered stone
Love, love, love, love
God's message to this world is love
Love thy neighbor as thyself
For God loves us all.
(And I've heard other variations over the years. You probably have too. I *know* this one didn't start with Wyo)
Dona
On a wagon, bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye
Far above him flys a swallow
Swooping swiftly through the sky
CHORUS:
All the winds are laughing
They laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through and
Half a summer's night
Dona dona
Dona dona dona, do-o-na
Dona-dona-dona-do-o-o
Dona dona dona do-o-na
Dona dona dona do-o
"Quit complaining" says the farmer
"Who told you a calf to be?
Why don't you have wings to fly with?
Like the swallow so proud and free"
CHORUS
Calfs are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever values freedom
Like the swallow must learn to fly
CHORUS
(Depressing? Oh hells yes. It's also one of the absolute prettiest songs I've ever heard --the melody right around "half a summer's night" is just gorgeous, especially when sung by fifty people all at once. Also, this song is why I'm making this post --I couldn't remember anything about it except the title, up to and including the melody, until I throughly racked my brains. Luckily, then it came back all at once)
Blackbird
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise, oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
(*shrugs* I don't really have a lot to say. I like the version Evan Rachel Wood sings in Across the Universe a LOT)
The Babysitter's Here
Tonight was just great
She taught us the sign for peace
Now she made us some popcorn and turned off the lights
And we're watching movies
And I don't understand, so she tries to explain
How a spaceship is flying through somebody's brain
And there's blood and guts, ew
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair and she's tall as my dad
And she tye-dyed my shirt and she pierced her own ear
And it's Peace man, cool, yeah
The babysitter's here
Her boyfriend is Tom but we call him the king of romance
He wears an American flag on the butt of his ripped up pants
And will they get married with kids of their own
He says not if she's going to college we won't
And he kisses her, oh
-Someday I'll have a boyfriend just like that
She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair and she's tall as my dad
And she got mad at dinner, when Tom drank a beer
But peace man, cool, hey
The babysitter's here
And we all went to see her go dance at the high school
We made her a big card
And she told us that she'd be the unicorn
Wearing the pink leotard and
There she was leaping up just like she said
With a sparkling horn coming out of her head
And she's up, oh, up-oh...
I can't wait to give her the card
I can't wait to give her the card
Okay, so, the play was called 'The Unicorn'
And she was the unicorn
So that means that the star was...
My babysitter!
And it's Saturday night, I can't sleep
And we're watching the news
She says "Do me a favour, don't go with a guy
Who will make you choose" and
I don't understand and she tries to explain
And all that mascara runs down in her pain2
'Cause she's leaving me, oh
You're the best one that we've ever had
You sit on your hair and you're tall as my dad
And I'll make you a picture
For college next year
So hush, now
Peace, man
The babysitter's here
The best babysitter's here
(Umyeah. This is a Wyo song first and foremost --my first year at Wyo, one of the counselers in my duplex used to sing us to sleep each night. This is one of the songs she would sing. It's by Dar Williams, and the moment where I first got to hear it again was just magnificent.)
Lullaby
Night night
It's time for bye-byes
It's been a great day, thanks a heap
But now it's time
For everyone
To go to sleep
(Just the one stanza out of it, really. And seriously, this is just so I can sing it to my kids on occasion when they are small. Someday, just when they've forgotten it, they'll wind up watching Shock Treatment, and hearing that song mom used to sing them to sleep with. I anticipate a just *wonderful* phone call.)
Lullaby for a Stormy Night
Little Child
Be not afraid
The rain pounds harsh against the glass
Like an unwanted stranger
There is no danger
I'm here tonight
Little child
Be not afraid
The thunder explodes and lightning flash
Illuminates
Your tearstained face
I'm here tonight
CHORUS:
And someday you'll know
That nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you'll see
In the morning
Little child
Be not afraid
The storm clouds mask a beloved moon
And its candlelight beams
So keep pleasant dreams
I'm here tonight
Little child
Be not afraid
The wind makes creatures of our trees
And the branches to hands
They're not real understand
I'm here tonight
CHORUS
For you know
Once even I was
A little child
And I was afraid
But a gentle someone always came
To dry all my tears
Trade sweet sleep for fears
And to give a kiss goodnight
Oh now I am grown
And these years have shown
Rains a part of how life goes
But it's dark and it's late
So I'll hold you and wait
'Til your frightened eyes do close
And I hope that you know
That nature is so
The same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
On forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you'll see
In the morning
Everything's fine in the morning
The rain'll be gone in the morning
But I'll/you'll still be here in the morning.
(This is my fourth most played song, the only song I've currently got rated three stars, and very likely what catapulted Vienna Teng from good to goddesslike. This song is comfort personified. I don't listen to it nearly as much as I used to, but it tends to run through my head when I need it to.)
These aren't all the songs I sing, but they're a significant portion. And they are all beautiful. If you ask me sometime, I am willing to croon any of these out. I assure you, my voice is not anything resembling great, butyeah, still willing.
~Sor
MOOP!
(2/12)
1: Technically should be Nik and Aly and me, but the scansion is less effective, I think.
2: This is one of my favourite lyrics from any song ever. Just chilling in it's beauty
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
on 2009-10-14 05:38 pm (UTC)Also: *glee at One Tin Soldier & Blackbird!*
no subject
on 2009-10-14 10:48 pm (UTC)~Sor
no subject
on 2009-10-14 05:44 pm (UTC)And we long for hearths and steads
Wooly heads
Should be "And we long for hearths and steads
Have no dread." (at least that's the way *I* sung it to you.
Also, what about:
Bed is to hard for my tired head,
Give me a mountain with trees.
Tuck a cloud up under my chin.
Lord...
Blow the moon out... Please.
no subject
on 2009-10-14 10:48 pm (UTC)Hey, I love you.
~Sor
no subject
on 2009-10-14 07:42 pm (UTC)I like all of those songs. you are cool thend.
no subject
on 2009-10-14 10:49 pm (UTC)Yay! You are cool too!
~Sor
no subject
on 2009-10-16 02:59 pm (UTC)The song's standard origin myth [that it was written in Warsaw] may not be factual, but it's certainly inextricably linked to the Holocaust now.
It's beautiful--amazingly, transcendently beautiful--but I can't imagine anybody being comforted by it. Moved, shaken, awakened . . . maybe comforted in the sense of "Yeah, life totally sucks, that's the way it is, we're all in it together, let's keep moving." But calm and sleepy? Never.
no subject
on 2009-10-16 03:28 pm (UTC)I...there's a certain extent to which the lullabies I sing *aren't* things I find comforting, except in that they make me cry consistently, and familiar tears are the easiest tears to deal with. Which is to say, I can only sometimes successfully sing all of "Circle Game" and I can almost *never* sing all of "The Babysitter's Here". And I mean --"when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall"? Lullabies are not happy songs.
But yes. Warning appreciated, will keep in mind for the future.
~Sor