Lyr Req: Rock Me to Sleep (Tom Hunter)

Subject: lyrics needed
From: sadie damascus
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 09:13 PM

I can't remember the first line......

"Tonight I -----------------; I want you to sing me a song; I'm tired of trying to figure things out, And I'm tired of being so strong."

Whose song? I need it for my sixteen-year-old granddaughter's valentine.

Subject: RE: lyrics needed
From: SeanM
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 01:25 AM

Don't know, but I'll refresh in hopes someone else will...

M

Subject: RE: lyrics needed
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:02 AM

Darn, this is familiar. I wanna say it's a Reba McEntire song. Maybe it's "Tonight I Want You to Rock Me to Sleep." I'll keep looking. -Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:04 AM

Hi Sadie, that's Tom Hunter's song, I think it's called 'Rock Me to Sleep' or else it's just "the Men's Song". It's in Rise Up Singing under Men, and the chorus goes:
Tonight I want you to rock me to sleep,
And I want you to sing me a song
I'm tired of trying to figure things out
And I'm tired of being so strong."

I can almost remember the rest of it ; > ...Tom Hunter lived in San Francisco when he wrote that, and sang it around SFFMC; he used to be a regular at SFFMC gatherings, but now he lives in Bellingham, I think.
Remember me from Harmony?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:11 AM

All I can hear are the crickets
And the whistle of some lonely freight
I've been working so hard to figure things out
But for now it will just have to wait, 'cause...
CHORUS
I've never been too good at asking
I'm more apt to go it alone
...............................
...............................
CHORUS

Funny how times when youre hurting
Make what's so familiar seem strange
......................it's hardest to ask
And it always takes so long to change

Subject: Lyr Add: ROCK ME TO SLEEP (Tom Hunter)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:17 AM

Yeah, Just like I said, Reba.... Well, maybe not. Looks like Barbara beat me to the punch, but I think I'll post my results as well, since mine are much neater... [grin] -Joe Offer-

---

ROCK ME TO SLEEP (Tom Hunter)

All I can hear are the crickets
And the whistle from some lonely freight
I've been working so hard to make everything right
But for now it'll just have to wait

C -F-/C-G,-/C-F-/--G-

CHORUS
`Cause tonight I'd like you to rock me to sleep
I'd like you to sing me a song'
I'm tired of trying to figure things out
And I'm tired of being so strong

C - FCG C/F-C-//F FCG C -

I've never been too good at asking
I'm more apt to do it alone
And it's strange how a lot of us think something's wrong
If we can't do it all on our own

It's funny how times when you're hurting
Make what's so faniiliar seem strange
So when you need help, it's hardest to ask
And it always takes so long to change


© 1977 Tom Hunter

Source: Rise Up Singing Songbook

---

Seems to me there's a recent recording of this, but heck if I know where.

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 02:21 AM

Hi Joe, I think you forgot the linebreaks. ; > Course, you can go back and use the cheat button to put em in.
B*

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 03:08 AM

Oh, dang. Guess I wasn't so neat, was I? I've been using an experimental version of Mudcat that supplies line breaks automatically - but sometimes it unexpectedly switches me back to the normal version, and I don't realize I'm supposed to insert line breaks until it's too late.
I'm still looking for a recent recording of this song. I thought Utah Phillips did it, but his song of that title is different, something he wrote himself.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: Barbara
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 10:58 AM

For Tom's home page, here's the blue clicky thing. Don't see a list of who else has recorded his songs, but you could e him and ask.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 Feb 01 - 11:11 AM

De man himself in Chicago back in the 70s and '80---FRED HOLSTEIN used to sing this quite often. It was so great to see and hear this VERY macho Chi-town kinda guy (a good friend) doing a less than macho song that showed he had a real sensitive and vulnerable (and needy) side to his being. I miss hearing Fred these days. I don't get to Chicago too often when I'd have the time to search him out and talk over the good ol' days. Not driving now makes me nuts sometimes. --------He was bartending last I heard. Anybody know???

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 12:38 PM

Did my last response go thru? Sterch's. The place is Sterch's on Lincoln Avenue. So thick with smoke you can't breathe. The old "Holstein's" sign is hanging on the wall.

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 10 Feb 01 - 12:39 PM

I see the previous one didn't. Yeah, Art, I stopped in to say hi when I was in chicago last summer. Fred looked good, as far as I could tell. I made him teach me that song in his group class at OTSFM.

Subject: RE: lyrics needed - tired of trying to figure, tired of being so strong
From: Barbara
Date: 13 Feb 01 - 01:51 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rock Me to Sleep (Tom Hunter)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 12:10 AM

Tom Hunter passed away on June 20th, 2008. I was very sad and still am.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rock Me to Sleep (Tom Hunter)
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 10 Nov 09 - 11:20 AM

Me too- I think of this song often, and of the times I heard Tom sing it. He did a kids concert on Bainbridge Island every year for 5 or 6 years in the late 80s - early 90s -an hour south of Bellingham where he lived. He would sometimes do a mini-concert for the parents the night before as a gift to the caregivers of the next day's audience. He was like that.
Carter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rock Me to Sleep (Tom Hunter)
From: GUEST,Karen Howdon
Date: 20 Jan 13 - 05:35 PM

I first heard this one from the singing of Faith Petric. Years ago I, like the OP, was hunting for the lyrics, and happened upon Tom Hunter's website which had a contact email address, and dropped him a line to see if he could tell me which album it was on. He very kindly not only let me know which of his CDs to buy, but also transcribed the lyrics for me, and wished me well. Such a kind and thoughtful man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rock Me to Sleep (Tom Hunter)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Jan 13 - 02:28 PM

ROCK ME TO SLEEP, written by Tommy Hunter, is sung by unknown (to me) female vocalist on the Willie Nelson album "Rainbow Connection" (2001), and by Juliana McCorison on "Not Just Lullabies from Planet Earth" (2008).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rock Me to Sleep (Tom Hunter)
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 18 - 06:04 PM

does anyone know how to get in touch with Tom Hunter's company, Song Growing? I would like to purchase a song book but since he past, I haven't seen his site. Thanks in advance
I too, have been taught by this kind man and his songs for children have touched my heart and always will.
Carol