An old lullaby (Field, set by J. Raynor) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Hush, bonnie, dinna greet,
Mother will rock her sweet,
Balow, my boy!
When that his toil ben done,
Daddie will come anon,
Hush thee, my little one,
Balow, my boy!

'Gin thou dost sleep, perchance
Fairies will come to dance,
Balow, my boy!
Oft hath thy mother seen
Moonlight and mirkland queen
Dance on thy slumb'ring e'en,
Balow, my boy!

Then droned a bumble bee
Softly this song to thee:
"Balow, my boy!"
And a wee heather bell,
Plucked from a fairy dell,
Chimed thee this rune hersell:
"Balow, my boy!"

So, bonnie, dinna greet,
Mother doth rock her sweet,
Balow, my boy!
Give me thy little hand,
Mother will hold it, and
Lead thee to Balow Land,
Balow, my boy!

Notes: greet = weep
rune = spell
'gin = if
mirkland = dark land, i.e. shadows

Input by Ken Edensor

Authorship

Eugene Field (1850-1895)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

John Raynor (1909-1970)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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