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Subject: Lyr Add: HOW PRETTY THE MOON LOOKS TONIGHT^^ From: GUEST,jmolnar@mc.net Date: 12 Jul 00 - 12:28 PM Looking in vain for origin and correct lyric. Probably from Arkansas or Louisiana circa 1925. Here's what I have now: HOW PRETTY THE MOON LOOKS TONIGHT Oh, Mother, how pretty the moon looks tonight She was never so cunning before Her two little horns are to sharp and so bright I hope they'll not grow any more If I were up there with you and the moon We'd rock in it nightly, you see. We'd sit in the middle and hold to both ends Oh, what a fine cradle 'twould be! We'd call to the stars to get out of our way, 'Lest we should rock over their toes. And there we would stay 'til the dawn of the day And see where the pretty moon goes. I need any information I can get because I am including this song in a book that I am currently writing and I want to make sure I have no copyright issues. Thanks for any available assistance. J. Molnar ^^ |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Mrr Date: 12 Jul 00 - 12:39 PM Looking forward to the rest of it, it sounds just lovely! Reminds one a little of Winken and Blinken and Nod, no? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,GUEST, j. molnar Date: 12 Jul 00 - 01:01 PM As far as I know, that is the more or less complete lyric, but since it was passed from my grandmother to my mother to me to my children, I wanted to know if we had changed the "original" lyric. It is beautiful, and it will be the title of the book I am writing about my mum. My children, who are now 24 and 26, still occasionally sing it with me when we see a crescent moon. Then we all puddle up a little, remembering that Granny and Grandma aren't with us any more to sing it. (But then, I can cry at some soft drink commercials.) j. molnar |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Jul 00 - 03:31 PM Hi - I think I found it here (click). This is from a 1939 field recording from California. Let's dig a little more and see what we find, but this should be a good start for you. Also look at this index link. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Mrr Date: 12 Jul 00 - 03:36 PM Don't worry, j molnar, you aren't alone, I cry at commercials too! So glad I'm not the only one! And this is a JUST BEAUTIFUL song. Will listen at home, will get caught if I try it here... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Jul 00 - 03:45 PM Also look here (click) and here (click). So, is it a traditional song, or a poem (undated, so far) by Mary Howitt (1799-1888) called "The New Moon," or a poem also called "The New Moon" by Eliza Lee Follen (1787-1860)? The hunt continues.... -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: Lyr Add: The New Moon/How Pretty the Moon Looks... From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Jul 00 - 04:34 PM THE NEW MOONAttributed to "anonymous" in Volume 10 of The Junior Classics printed by P. F. Collier and Sons with copyright dated 1918. Also found (with all four verses) in the Beacon Second Reader, by James H, Fassett, copyright 1914, which attibutes the poem to Eliza Lee Follen. Click to play |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Jul 00 - 11:44 PM I checked with both Web sites that had the poem posted. One said they found it attributed to "anonymous" in a book dated 1918. The other found it attributed to Eliza Lee Follen in a book published in 1914. A previous attribution to Mary Howitt was found to be incorrect. Some sources say that Eliza Lee Follen wrote "Three Little Kittens," but I found it was attributed to "anonymous" in a collection edited by Follen. I think the same may be true of "New Moon," so I'm reluctant to attribute it to Follen. Whatever the case, it was written before 1914, so there is no copyright problem. -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: Sandy Paton Date: 13 Jul 00 - 12:24 AM Joe, your web-searching talents are awesome! I am in awe. Sandy |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,J Molnar Date: 15 Jul 00 - 11:39 AM Joe, You have accomplished in a matter of hours what I was unable to do in years. Thank you so much--I am thrilled that I know more about this part of my family history.
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Subject: Lyr Add: OH MOTHER HOW PRETTY THE MOON IS TONIGHT From: GUEST,Marni Date: 17 Feb 04 - 01:35 PM My grandma used to sing this song to me, but it was a little different, and had one more verse: Oh, Mother, How pretty the moon is tonight; She ne'er was so cunning before. Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright. Oh, I hope she don't grow any more. If I were up there, with you and my friends, we'd rock in it nicely you'd see. We'd sit in the middle and hold by both ends. Oh, what a bright cradle it'd be. We'd call to the stars to keep out of our way, lest we should rock over their toes, And there we would stay 'til the next day And see where that pretty moon goes. And there we would sit in that beautiful sky, and through the bright clouds we would roam. We watch the sun set, and watch the sun rise, and on the next rainbow come home. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Mother How pretty the moon is tonight From: GUEST,gaylesrose@aol.com Date: 19 May 04 - 12:25 AM My grandfather used to sing this to my sister. This would have been about 1961 or so in Nebraska. I would like to find some sheet music or book with the lyrics to give her as a birthday present. Can anyone help? ~Gayle |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Oh Mother How pretty the moon is tonight From: Jim Dixon Date: 19 May 04 - 07:21 PM This site calls the poem "Pretty Moon" and says it was written by Clara Beeson Hubbard. This vendor is offering to sell (for $125.00!) a book called "Merry Songs and Games for Use of the Kindergarten" by Clara Beeson Hubbard, published 1887. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST Date: 20 May 04 - 04:51 PM Seems a bit overpriced. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Jerri Hahs Date: 30 Jul 04 - 06:25 PM What a thrill to find people who knew and loved this poem. My mother used to hold me on her lap and read these lines from a Nursery Rhyme book I had in the '30s. I've often wished I still had the book. At age 77, finding your posts were real gifts! I've never heard the music, so will begin looking for that too! Only today did it occur to me to look on the Internet for the words! and I've wondered about them for many years. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Clint Keller Date: 30 Jul 04 - 08:56 PM My father used to sing it in the thirties, but not the fourth verse, if that means anything. It seems better without it, though I may be biased. clint |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HOW PRETTY THE MOON IS TONIGHT From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 31 Jul 04 - 04:46 PM Its in our family repertoire- we used to speculate that some ancestor found it as a poem in a magazine, and put a tune to it. On twilights when the new moon was going down in the west, young girls would sing this song "to the moon," in gratitude that she had returned to the sky. Or,at family sings on the porch, evenings. HOW PRETTY THE MOON IS TONIGHT O Mother, how pretty the moon is tonight, She was never so cunning before Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright- I hope she won't grow anymore. CHO: I hope she won't grow anymore Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright- I hope she won't grow anymore. If I were up there with you and my friends, I'd rock, so nicely you'd see; I'd sit in the middle and hold by both ends- O what a nice cradle 'twould be. I'd call to the stars to look out of my way, Lest I should rock over their toes; I'd rock and I'd rock till the dawn of the day, And see where the pretty moon goes. I'd stay up there in the beautiful skies, And on the bright clouds I would roam; I'd see the sun set and see the sun rise And on the next rainbow come home! The "chorus" between each verse begins with the last line of the verse just sung, followed by the third line and last line, again, of each verse. We dearly loved this little song, and many's the night I have gone to sleep surrounded by Mom, Dad, and my sisters and brothers singing around me on our front porch. But I don't think I have ever recorded it, or at least I cannot remember it if I have. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HOW PRETTY THE MOON IS TONIGHT From: GUEST,kate Date: 23 Sep 04 - 12:43 PM My great-grandma used to sing this song.. it was one of her favorites. I'm not sure what the "correct" lyrics are, but the ones she sang were: HOW PRETTY THE MOON IS TONIGHT Dear Mother, how pretty the moon is tonight, She was never so pretty before. Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright, I hope they won't grow anymore. If I were up there with you and my friends, We'd fit in it nicely you'd see. We'd sit in the middle and hold to both ends Oh what a nice cradle 'twould be. We'd sail along the milky way, Thru' clouds of silver and rose. We'd call the the stars to keep out of our way Lest we should rock over their toes. To the hightest star, We'd quickly rise. All over the heavens we'd roam. We'd see the sun set, and see the sun rise, And on the next rainbow come home. I am also looking for the origin. My grandma was from Utah. I'm currently in the process of arranging it for piano and voice. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NEW MOON SONG (how pretty the moon) From: GUEST,Tom Date: 30 Nov 04 - 03:57 AM My grandmother [born about 1895] sang the version below and said her grandfather, Lanceford Bramlett Wilkes, had learned it from his mother as a child in Kentucky. Tom Farley NEW MOON SONG Oh mother, how pretty the moon looks tonight. She was never so cunning before. Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright, I hope they won't grow any more. If I were up there with you and my friends, Oh what a fine cradle t'would be. We'd sit in the middle and hold by both ends, And on the next rainbow come ho-o-o-ome. We'd sit in the middle and hold by both ends, And on the next rainbow come home. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: OH, MAMA, HOW PRETTY THE MOON SHINES... From: Jim Dixon Date: 01 Dec 04 - 09:23 AM The Library of Congress, in its Cowell collection, has a field recording called OH, MAMA, HOW PRETTY THE MOON SHINES TONIGHT collected in California in 1939. OH, MAMA, HOW PRETTY THE MOON SHINES TONIGHT Oh, Mama, how pretty the moon shines tonight! She was never so cunning before. Her two little horns are s' sharp and so bright, I hope they won't grow any more. If I were up there with you and my friends, We'd sit in the middle and hold to both ends, Oh, what a nice cradle 'twould be! We'd call to the stars to keep out of our road, For fear we should walk over their toes. And there we would sit till dawn of the day And see where the pretty moon goes. And on the next rainbow, and on the next rainbow, we'd come home. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 01 Dec 04 - 03:19 PM Joe, if you want my family tune & words for DT, I'll sing it to you over the phone. Request this on personal page, if you wish...Jean |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Alex Baker (London Ontario Canada) Date: 27 Jul 05 - 01:00 AM I wish I could tell anyone connected with the notes on this song how happy they have made me tonight. I will turn 50 this Christmas and my Grandmother (whom I called Danny, as was the tradition in our family) taught me this song before she died in 1963. She died when I was 8 and yet I think of her all the time........I am so lucky to be able to remember her so well :) She taught me this song and I have looked high and low for the music and lyrics (as I only remembered parts of it) I stumbled across this site this evening after trying many time to find some connection to this memory. Even though my tears are pouring out..........I am truly happy. Thank you so very much - from the very bottom of my heart. You have made a dear sweet memory come alive for me and I am SO grateful. It has meant so much to me - Alexandra Baker (Jablonsky) London, Ontario, Canada alexandrabaker23@hotmail.com |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE CRESCENT MOON LULLABY From: GUEST,Terry Date: 09 Jul 07 - 08:42 AM About 2 weeks before my grandmother passed away, she sang this song to my sister for the last time, it was her "daddy's" favorite song and my mother tells me she sang it to us all (8 grandkids) while she would rock us, she did vary the words a little so I'll put it here the way she sang it, and, tho I know there was a third verse, I never recall her singing it, we have always known it as "The Crescent Moon Lullaby". I have a recording of her singing part of it but she was quite hard of hearing all her life so the words are a little hard to make out but the tune is fairly distinguishable. Her sisters are still living and I'm thinking of having one of them either record it for us or help one of us who can sing to record it. I dedicate this to my Grandma E. 12/19/1916 - 07/02/07 The Crescent Moon Lullaby Oh Mother how pretty the moon looks tonight 'Twas never so pretty before Her two little horns are too sharp and so bright I hope they'll not grow anymore If I were up there with you and my friends We'd rock in it nightly you see We'd sit in the middle and hold by both ends Oh what a bright cradle 'twould be We'd call to the stars to get out of the way Lest we should rock over their toes And there we would stay 'til the dawn of the day And see where the pretty moon goes. If I were up there with you and my friends We'd rock in it nightly you see We'd sit in the middle and hold by both ends Oh what a bright cradle 'twould be eee Oh what a bright cradle 'twould be. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 09 Jul 07 - 04:21 PM Thanks to everyone who has made this charming song available once again. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE NEW MOON From: Jim Dixon Date: 11 Jul 07 - 07:44 PM Google Book Search finds several copies of this poem in old schoolbooks dated between 1886 and 1916. The oldest among them is from "The Third Reader," by William Torrey Harris et al., New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1886, page 145. It appears with no attribution, and with strange notation that is supposed to convey to the young reader which words are to be emphasized when reciting it. THE NEW MOON Oh, mother, how pretty the moon looks tonight! She was never so cunning before; Her two little horns are so sharp and so bright, I hope they'll not grow any more! If I were up there with you and my friends, We'd rock in it nicely, you'd see; We'd sit in the middle and hold by both ends— Oh, what a bright cradle 'twould be! We'd call to the stars to keep out of the way, Lest we should rock over their toes; And there we would stay till the dawn of the day, And see where the pretty moon goes. And there we would rock in the beautiful skies, And through the bright clouds we would roam; We'd see the sun set, and see the sun rise, And on the next rainbow come home. [The wording varies somewhat in other books, but the title is always the same, and no author is ever identified.] |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: katlaughing Date: 23 Jan 08 - 03:06 PM So glad to find this on Mudcat. I am reading the memoirs of an elderly woman, here in Colorado. She mentions several songs throughout. This one was a favourite of hers when growing up and she has passed it on to her children and grandchildren. She will be pleased to know others know of it. Thanks, kat |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE NEW MOON From: Jim Dixon Date: 05 Nov 08 - 03:31 PM Google Book Search now finds a source that is older than the one I posted above. (I suppose they're scanning more books constantly.) A Poetry Book for Children. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1854. THE NEW MOON. DEAR mother, how pretty The moon looks to-night, She was never so cunning before; Her two little horns Are so sharp and so bright, I hope she'll not grow any more. If I were up there With you and my friends, I'd rock in it nicely, you'd see; I would sit in the middle, And hold by both ends, Oh, what a bright cradle 'twould be! I would call to the stars To keep out of the way, Lest we should rock over their toes; And there I would rock Till the dawn of the day, And see where the pretty moon goes. And there we would stay In the beautiful skies, And through the bright clouds we would roam; We would see the sun set, And see the sun rise, And on the next rainbow come home. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Kwak Date: 05 Nov 08 - 09:52 PM There's a version on youtube called Light of the Moon but the words are all strange. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: O MOTHER COME SEE HOW THE MOON LOOKS ... From: GUEST,Len Kruse Date: 05 Feb 09 - 09:08 AM I remember so well my father telling the story of how he and his brothers and sisters learned that song. They had all attended a barn dance at a neighboring town somewhere in the Badlands of South Dakota and that song had been performed, probably around 1930. After the dance was over and it was time to go home they all piled in their model T Ford and headed back to their ranch near Conata. On the way home they started singing it together. Some remembered one line, some another, and by the time they got home they had pieced it all together. My dad still remembered it til his dying day. He would sometimes sing it for some of our kids if we asked - I loved to hear him sing and tell stories of life in South Dakota. It is a very fond memory of my dad I keep close to my heart. Here is our version: O Mother come see how the moon looks tonight It's brighter than ever before! It's two little ends are so pointy and bright, I hope they won't grow any more. If I were up there And you were my friend, I'd rock you so nicely, you'd see; I would sit in the middle, And hold its both ends, And what a nice cradle 'twould be! We would tell the bright stars To get out of our way, Lest we should rock over their toes; And there we would rock Till the dawn of the day, To see where the pretty moon goes. And there we would stay In the beautiful skies, And through the bright clouds we would roam; We would see the sun rise, And we'd see the sun set, And on the next rainbow come home. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Robbie White Date: 13 Jul 09 - 05:45 PM Thanks for the information. This song was handed down in our family also. My great-grandmother sang it to my grandfather and his eleven brothers and sisters in the 1880s. No one in my family knew where it came from. Thirty years ago I illustrated this lullaby with watercolor. I recently created an iPhone or iPod Touch App with 20 pages and my mother singing the song. For more information or to see some of the pictures go to my website: http://sites.google.com/site/walden60 |
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Subject: Lyr Add: HOW PRETTY THE MOON IS TONIGHT From: GUEST,Robbie White Date: 23 Oct 10 - 03:01 PM I have now published this lullaby in a children's book that I illustrated with watercolor 30 years ago. Check it out at my website at http://sites.google.com/site/walden60 Our family's lyrics are a little different: HOW PRETTY THE MOON IS TONIGHT Oh, ! mother, how pretty the moon is tonight, 'Twas never so pretty before; Its two little corners so sharp and so bright, I hope they won't grow any more; If I were up there with you and my friends, We'd rock in it nicely, you see, We'd sit in the middle, And hold to both ends. Oh! what a bright cradle 'twould be, Oh! what a bright cradle 'twould be. We'd call to the stars to get out of our way, Lest we should rock over their toes; And there we would sit til the end of the day, And see where the pretty moon goes; And there we would rock thro' the beautiful skies, And thro' the bright clouds we would roam. We'd see the sunset, and see the sunrise, And on the next rainbow slide home, And on the next rainbow slide home. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: Joe Offer Date: 23 Oct 10 - 05:46 PM I see that I missed the opportunity to have Jean Ritchie sing this to me. I'm sorry I missed her invitation to call. I hope she's soon in good enough health to be able to sing it. Jim Dixon linked to one field recording (Oh, I found it before Jim did). Are there other field recordings available online, or can anybody direct me to notation? I really think we ought to be able to find and post notation for this song. If somebody can send me a MIDI, I'd be glad to post it. I did find a MIDI at Kididdles. Is it right? -Joe- joe@mudcat.org Here's my adaptation of the tune posted at Kididdles. Does it sound right? Click to play |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Michelle Date: 02 Jan 11 - 09:40 PM Joe, your version is similar to the notation I have in John M Feierabend's The Book Of Lullabies . Some different notes, but essentially the same song. Mama Lisa also has a couple of versions of it, although the studio recording by Cher and Gene Klosner has a very different tune. I'm looking to teach it to my mommy-and-me class this year, so I've been looking for recordings, and for the correct person to attribute the lyrics to. Thanks for all the info people have provided here. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Michelle M Date: 02 Jan 11 - 09:48 PM Is this where you found the notation? http://sites.google.com/site/walden60/ Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Michelle M Date: 02 Jan 11 - 10:00 PM One more thing... there is a lovely recording on the above http://sites.google.com/site/walden60/ sung by the author's mother, the version is entitled "The Pretty Moon". It's my favorite so far. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Kernball Date: 29 May 11 - 03:33 PM Hello Crescent Moon lovers! How nice to come upon your fan club! This song was also handed down in my family (originally in Indiana) and my husband (a professional musician) and I recorded it back in 1991, when it was still on cassette tape. We recently resurrected it, and put it in the digital and MP3 formats. I can email you our version, it's 1.84 MB. Just request from kernball@charter.net and I will forward. We also did 10 other lullabies from my grandmother. Here is the list: 1. Crescent Moon Cradle (Oh Mother how pretty the moon is tonight...) 2. Blanket Bay (All aboard for blanket bay...) 3. The Sandman (My very good friend the Sandman visits me every night) 4. Little Boy Blue (Under the haystack Little Boy Blue sleeps...) 5. The Birdies' Ball (The brook once said to the nightingale...) 6. Jesus' Lullaby (Sleep little baby of mine...) 7. Sweet Holy Child (Jesus teach me how to pray...) 8. Brahms' Lullaby (Lullaby, and good night, with roses bedight...) 9. Rock-a-bye Baby (Grandmother's sitting in her old rocking chair...) 10. Storybook Ball (In Mother Goose's book up in the nursery...) 11. Train to Fairyland (The train is coming around the bend...) Sincerely, Donna Ball |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST Date: 11 Jan 12 - 01:53 PM My Dad learned this piece in school as a recital lesson he had it memorized We would sit as little ones and listen as he recited it He has passed away but I can still see him and hear him reciting it for us and tears well up what a great memory |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST,Guest: Vicki Date: 09 Mar 19 - 09:41 PM I'm 81 and my mother taught me a slightly shorter version. Oh Mamma how pretty the moon looks tonight It's never been brighter before It's two little arm are so long and so bright I hope they don't grow any more. If I were up there with you and my friends We'd rock in the cradle you see We'd see the sun set and see the sun rise And on the first rainbow come home. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Pretty the Moon Looks Tonight From: GUEST Date: 27 Aug 21 - 11:50 AM I'm 75 and my grandmother sang this to me as a toddler on her lap. My family called it "Dear Mother". I want to thank our Library of Congress for pointing me to Mudcat, and all the folks who make Mudcat possible. I had been searching for the origins of this song for decades without success. I recorded our version and posted it on youtube (see link below). I apologize for my old thinning out voice. Our family's version of "A Pretty Moon", we call it "Dear Mother" |
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