If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Text
An Old Man's Lullaby
English source:
Thomas Dekker
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise:
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby,
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Care is heavy, therefore sleep you;
You are care and care must keep you:
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Smiles awake you when you rise:
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby,
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Care is heavy, therefore sleep you;
You are care and care must keep you:
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Composer
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH CBE was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music. Read more here.
Poet
Thomas Dekker
Thomas Dekker was an English Elizabethan dramatist and pamphleteer.