The Slumber Boat **Updated
Judy over at Just Ask Judy has been posting her sheetmusic collection. She posted one of my most favorites, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, a few days ago.
Many of these old tunes I sing to my babies in place of as lullabyes. Some bring water to my eyes, some leave me smiling and some I can't remember all the words and humm the tune while I rock my babies.
I do not have a nice singing voice. I wish I did. If there was ever a talent I wanted it was singing. My singing is so bad that Gracie would cry as an infant when I sang to her. As a toddler she would put her hand over my mouth and hush the words, "You no sing, Momma," she would say.
When Colby was little we sang together and often loudly. As a baby she hated riding in her carseat and would cry and scream. As she grew older and could sit in a forward facing carseat nothing much changed except the screaming was quieted but the struggle to keep her in the car seat was monumental. I would sing and ask her to help me sing and remember the words to keep her occupied until I got to where we were going.
BTW, Colby still finds it very funny when she remembers how Gracie would cry when I sang. The Hell?!? Kids aren't supposed to remember those things! I did not give permission!
With this baby boy I don't know if he likes my singing. When I sing and humm he gets very still and wants to nurse. Either the singing is comforting or he is trying to escape in any way possible and sleep is easier than learning to get up and run away.
For whatever reason the tunes come and go. Some long forgotten until a memory sets it off. That is exactly what happened the other day.
Susie over at the Underpaid Kept Woman headquarters posted her interview with Bill Thomas, the writer of music for the Captain Kangeroo show.
She noted a discussion with Mr. Thomas of runcible spoons (a pickle fork really) which made me think of The Owl and the Pussycat ... more specifically the first line:
I do love this tune. I sang it to my baby boy all day yesterday as he was having a bad day and finally he settled down and slept for a couple hours after we rocked and sang in the late afternoon.
Did I ever tell you that lullabyes make me cry? They do. No reason that I know of. Just emotion spills out all over the place int he form of tears slipping down my cheeks. I am tearing up just thinking of it.
I purchased the Jack Johnson cd, the Curious George Soundtrack, for Steven. I love his laid back voice. On a side note that has absolutely nothing to do with this post have any of you noticed that Jack Johnson looks like the little curious monkey named George? He does! If you go to his site, click films, bonus material and watch the Upside Down video. Love it! But these don't make me cry.
Sing me a lullabye, leaving the words in the comments - won't you please? Perhaps one you sang to your babies or one you remember from your own childhood. I am in the mood for lullabyes.
Updated to add: I found a website with the midi so you can get an idea of the tune to sing The Slumber Boat to your babies. The midi has a 1998 copyright. The song itself is public domain (as is most sheet music before 1923).
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat ...
The Slumber Boat
Baby's boat's the silver moon, Sailing in the sky, Sailing o'er the sea of sleep, While the clouds float by. Sail, baby, sail, Out upon that sea, Only don't forget to sail Back again to me.
Baby's fishing for a dream, Fishing near and far, His line a silver moonbeam is, His bait a silver star. Sail, baby, sail, Out upon that sea, Only don't forget to sail Back again to me.
'You Are My Sunshine' always has been a favorite lullabye around our house.
I bought the book and CD for 'Dog Train' by Sandra Boynton. It is wonderful....especially "I Need A Nap". Sung by...hold on...Kate Winslet and Weird Al Yankovic.
Angie, thanks for the link. I remember the Slumber Boat and I think it must be the inspiration for an old illustration I remember; a baby boy, sitting on the edge of the crescent moon, with a fishing pole.
I used to sing to my babies and now I do it with my grandbabies too. My favorite was one I can never remember all the words to:
"I love you, a bushel and a peck, a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck....."
Angie, I have a horrible singing voice, too. In fact, I bet mine is worse than yours! I have never met anyone as tone-deaf as I am.
That didn't keep me from singing to my babies, though! I mostly sang them songs I remembered from my childhood -- stuff my Dad used to listen to on his stereo when I was little. Lots of CSNY, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, etc.
This was a favorite of mine for the boy:
Sweet Baby James
There is a young cowboy he lives on the range
His horse and his cattle are his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
Waiting for summer, his pastures to change
And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
And closing his eyes as the doggies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it’s clear
As if maybe someone could hear
(chorus)
Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rockabye sweet baby james
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won’t you let me go down in my dreams
And rockabye sweet baby james
Now the first of december was covered with snow
And so was the turnpike from stockbridge to boston
Lord, the berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go
There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me
- chorus -
And my favorite for the girl who had colic until ... well, she's 8 and she kind of still has it:
Baby Mine (from Dumbo)
Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine
Little one when you play
Don't you mind what you say
Let those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine
If they knew sweet little you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The right to hold you
From your head to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine
That's so funny- my Noodleboy used to do just like Gracie when i sang- and Jillybean liked my off key and loud voice.
I'm with you, even though I couldn't sing- I still did.
We had a song that we sang to our children in the mornings at wake up time:
Goood morning little yellow bird
yellow bird
yellow bird
Good morning little yellow bird
How
are
you?
My mom sang it to us and I sang it to both of my children.. it's corny, but it's cute.
LadyBug
humm, there is "Twinkle Twinkle" oohhh my mom made up one. it's sounds horrible
"Here bears, Here Bears come and get (childs name)." over and over lol then she was singing it to her grandchildren and changed it to
"Here Bears, Here Bear come and hug" lol
I love the Dumbo one too.
and they is an old hym i sing most often
"'Till, the storm passes over
'Till, the thunder sounds no more
'Till, the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast,let me stand, in the hollow of thy hand, Keep me safe 'till the storm passes by."
hmmmm, and Jesus loves me too.
I love to sing and my baby does too. She's not even two yet and I'll bet she knows at least 20 songs. I am so glad because my mother and I harmonized a lot growing up and I've always had fantasies of having a daughter that could do the same.
I sing her the same lullaby every night. My mother sang it to me and it was the most comforting thing in the world. Even when my baby was very small, she would stop crying whenever I sang it. Now she sings along before bed.
Hushaby
Don't you cry.
Go to sleep my little baby.
When you awake
You shall have
all the pretty little horses.
Dapples and grays
Pintos and bays
all the pretty little horses.
Hushaby
Don't you cry.
Poor little baby crying mama.
I've heard lots of variations of this song, but I've never heard the version my mom sings. It's very slow and in a minor key and I just love it. She loved singing it again to Baby when she kept her for us last week.
Badger, I sing the Dumbo song too!!
I've also butchered "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and for some reason, "Oh Holy Night" is a year round favorite. But I'll sing whatever to get little asses to stay in bed.
I also wish I had a wonderful singing voice! My secret dream was to be in a singing group, or be on stage! Alas, it is not to be.
Beautiful song!
When I was a child, I was only quieted with "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night or "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce. I still know all of the words to both songs.
My Nooz likes "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean".
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
my bonnie lies over the sea
my bonnie lies over the ocean
oh, bring back my bonnie to me.
Bring back, bring back
oh bring back my bonnie to me, to me
bring back, bring back
oh bring back my bonnie to me.
This is for Kenju - bushel and a peck come from Guys and Dolls.
I love you, a bushel and a peck
a bushel and peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and heap
A barrel and heap and I'm talking in my sleep about you,
About you.
etc.
My five year old currently likes Sleep My Child and Hush little baby with occasional Raindrops on Roses and I've Been Working on the Railroad.
Angie - I delurked for this - your baby is adorable and I love your blog anyway. Even without baby.
There's a wee baby moon, sailing up in the sky,
with his little silvery toes in the air,
and he's all by himself in the great big sky,
but the wee baby moon doesn't care.
~K!
STAR FOR YOU TO WISH ON
(draw shape of star on child's forehead)
SUN SO WARM AND BRIGHT
(draw sun)
MOON FOR YOU TO THINK ON
(draw moon)
PLEASANT DREAMS
A KISS GOODNIGHT
(kiss forehead)
Sorry, coulnd't resist another.
If you haven't heard Barbra Striesand sing 'Baby Mine' from the Dumbo movie you are missing a real treat by the way. Beautiful.
~K!
Lucinda typed out my favorite- Pretty Little Horses. But now I'm off to find the music to Slumber Boat because I love the words.
It's nice to be back and find such a wonderful post on the music of babies- vocal cords or no, you are wonderfully lyrical, Angie.
I think Lucinda typed out Vicki's favorite.
LOL
Anyway, I've been thinking about lullabies all day for you and singing them with my girls.
I don't sing them lullabies at bedtime, but instead songs I just like to sing. Hannah always wants Danny Boy. Rachel as a baby used to fall asleep to The Rose.
I think my voice is halfway decent and still there were times when as toddlers the girls would put their hands over my mouth, so I wouldn't take it personally. Keep singing. It's so important, I think. I bet your voice is better than you think.
My husband made a great playlist of lullabies for Rachel when she was a baby. We still have it. I can send you a copy if you want to give me your address.
One of the lullabies on there is Billy Joel's. If you have an ipod, or can download music from itunes, I recommend it. Here are the lyrics.
Good night my angel time to close you eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Where ever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away
*Verse 2*
Good night my angel now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep
Inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me
(Musical Bridge)
Do do do do...
*Verse 3*
Goodnight my angel now it's time to dream
And dream how wondeful your life will be
Someday your child will cry and if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart there will always be a part of me
Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabies go on and on
They never die that's how you and I will be
I think the title is Goodnight My Angel. There is a children's book that you can buy with a CD of the song in it. I don't remember if the book is any good or not. I imagine it is because the cover was beautiful.
I am a horrible singer, but I always sang to my babies at night and they seemed to like it. One of the regular night-time songs was "Mockingbird"
Hush little baby don't say a word
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing
Poppa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
The song goes on forever and you can make up words to it. Josh, in fact, used to make up funny words and get the girls all giggly and riled up at bedtime which wasn't really helpful, but it was fun.