Lyrics for the Lullaby: The First Steps Podcast

Episode One: Goodnight baby. Traditional.

Goodnight baby.

Goodnight baby.

Goodnight baby.

It's time to go to sleep

Episode Two: Soualle (good night). Traditional - Congo

Soualle, soualle

Soualle, soualle

Soualle, soualle

Soualle, soualle

Soualle, soualle

Soualle, soualle

Episode Three: E Moe Pepe (Sleep now baby). Traditional Maori (New Zealand)

E moe pepe

E moe ra

E moe pepe

E moe ra

Hoki mai mama (papa) apopo

Hoki mai mama (papa) apopo

​

Translation:

Sleep now baby, go to sleep

I will see you in the morning, Mama (Papa)

Episode Four: Hushabye, Hushabye. Traditional. Origin unknown - assumed North America

Hushabye, hushabye

Little baby, little baby

Don't you cry.

​

Stars are high in the sky

Little baby, little baby

Don't you cry.

​

Birds and beast have all gone to rest

Go to sleep 'cos mammy knows best.

​

Hushabye, hushabye

Little baby, little baby

Don't you cry.

Episode Five: All The Pretty Little Horses. Traditional. North America

Hushabye, don't you cry

Go to sleep, my little baby.

When you wake, you shall have

All the pretty little horses.

​

Blacks and bays,

Dapples and greys,

Dancing through the sky.

​

When you wake you shall have

All the pretty little horses.

Episode Six: An Irish Lullaby. Words and music James Royce Shannon

Over in Killarney

Many years ago

My mother sang a song to me

In tones so sweet and low.

​

Just a simple little ditty,

In her good old Irish way,

And I'd give the world if she could sing

That song to me this day.

​

Toora-loora-looral

Toora-loora-li

Toora-loora-looral

Hush now don't you cry.

​

Toora-loora-looral

Toora-loora-li

Toora-loora-looral

That's an Irish lullaby

Episode Eight: Spooky Men's Chorale 

Tell Me Why

​

Tell me why the ivy twines.

Tell me why the stars do shine.

Tell me why the sea's so blue.

Tell me why I love you.

​

Because God made the ivy to twine.

Because God made the stars to shine.

Because God made the sea so blue.

Because God made you, I love you.

Sleep Dear Children (Welsh) 

Or, Tonight Tonight.

​

Heno, heno, hen blant bach

Heno, heno, hen blant bach,

Dime, dime, dime hen blant bach

Dime, dime, dime hen blant bach.

​

Gwely, gwely hen blant bach

Gwely, gwely hen blant bach

Dime, dime, dime hen blant bach

Dime, dime, dime hen blant bach.

Sleep My Beautiful Child (Welsh)

​

Cysga di fy mhlentyn tlws

Cysga di fy mhlentyn tlws

Cysga di fy mhlentyn tlws

Cei gysgu tan y bore

Cei gysgu tan y bore.

Episode Nine: Rounds - The River is Flowing (trad) and Sunlight is Fading (Suzann Frisk)

The River is Flowing

​

The river is flowing

Flowing and growing

The river is flowing

Down to sea.

​

Mother, she'll carry me

A child I will always be.

Mother, she'll carry me

Down to the sea. 

Sunlight is Fading

​

Sunlight is fading,

Night is awake.

Sleep in my arms

And rest until day.

Episode Ten: Inanay (Traditional) from Lou Bennett (TIDDAS)

Inanay gupu wana

Inanay gupu wana

Ay au au oola

Oola oola, oola ay yippy ay ippy ay

​

Goo wana, goo wana

Goo wana, goo wana, goo wah, choo

Goo wana, goo wana

Goo wana, goo wana, goo wah, choo.

​

​

Episode Eleven: Rocking Carol

Gentle baby, sweetly sleep

Do not cry.

We will sing a lullaby.

​

We will rock you, rock you, rock you.

We will rock you, rock you, rock you.

​

Feel these arms to keep you warm

Snugly round your tiny form.

Episode Twelve: Soolah (Rachel Hore)

Soolah soolye-ah

Soolah soolye-ah

Soolah soolye-ah

Hey ya

Christmas Episode: Away in a Manger (trad). Arr. James R Murray

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.

The stars in the brigh sky looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

​

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes

But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.

I love thee Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky

And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

​

Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care

And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

​

​

Episode Fifteen: Little Locket of Long Ago (Harry Woods and Joe Burke)

Dear little locket of long ago.

So sweet, so old fashioned, like calico.

I've kept you with me for all these years.

You are the sweetest of my souvenirs.

​

One tiny picture you hold inside

Brings millions of memories to me.

How much I love you you'll never know,

Little locket of long ago.

​

Episode Sixteen: Baba Waian (Trad. Torres Strait)

Ba-ba Wai-an Ni-nu Mai-gi Mari

Ba-ba Wai-an Ni-nu Mai-gi An-ge-la.

Ngoel-mu-ni a Kai-mel

I-nub Ku-bil nu.

I-nub Ku-bil nu Ku-ru-si-ka goi-ga.