Sing Me to Sleep, Mother

Sing me to sleep, mother, Sing me to sleep, While shadows are falling Silent and deep O'er the dark palms that weep With dews of night. Whippoorwills are calling To you and me In their awkward flight From tree to tree. O mother, the owl is crying Through the black night, And fireflies are flying With golden light. Sing me to sleep, mother, Sing me to sleep, Sing to thy sorrowing child While shadows creep Silent and deep O'er the marshes wide and wild.

Sing me to sleep, mother, For bright stars peep From the low, southern sky, And shadows creep O'er the pine trees high. O mother, in the night A swift star dies, And the wind in its flight Mournfully sighs. The water lilies white Have closed their eyes, And frogs in the deep Chant wildly and slow To their little ones asleep In the pools below. Sing me to sleep, mother, Sing soft and low And sweetly as of old, While shadows fall Silently o'er all In mystery untold.

Sing me to sleep, mother, Sing me to sleep, For the sun has gone From the golden west And birds have flown To their high, lonely nest. Mother, the world is wide From bough to bough, But only here at my side Singing art thou. The world is far, dear mother, And long the way, But thou art here only For a brief day. Sing me to sleep, mother, Sing me to sleep, Sing to thy sorrowing child While shadows creep Silent and deep O'er the marshes wide and wild.