The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #2871   Message #12970
Posted By: Jon W.
23-Sep-97 - 01:06 PM
Thread Name: Lullaby Land (songs posted here)
Subject: Lyr Add: SLEEPY PEEDIE LADDIE
Beautiful, Bert, I hope you can post the tune somehow.

Here's one of my favorites, from an old '60s folk collection record I check out from a library some years ago and already submitted to DT:

SLEEPY PEEDIE LADDIE

Lies low the sun and shadows tall
across the fields are creepin'
And soon the big round yellow moon
will o'er the brae come deepin'
Haste ye noo, lay by your barrow,
Daddy'l mend the broken wheel tomorrow
Come ye in and get ye bedded doon,
It's time my lad was sleepin'.

Come put ye on your wee white goon (gown)
afore the peat fire cheery,
I'll gang the mornin' tae the toon (town)
for sweeties for my dearie
Hush ye noo and stop your sighin'
Or Wee Willie Winkie'll come a-pryin'
Snug ye doon, my lad, and sleep ye soond (sound)
For mommie's sittin' near ye.

He's played all day wi' golden sun,
and weary is my laddie
His curly head is noddin',
and he's greetin' for his daddy.
Wist ye noo, my brave wee fellow,
tears'll wet your cozy cozy pillow
Close your eyes while Mother sings to you,
My sleepy peedie laddie.

Go softly, softly, ane and all,
and gentle wi' your speakin'
He's turned his wee face to the wall
And ceased his plaintive weepin'
Dream ye sweet, my bonny fellow,
Eyes so blue and hair so yellow yellow
Hush now, lightly let your footsteps fall,
for my wee laddie's sleepin'.

From an album of folk songs from the Orkney Isles.
"Peedie" is the Orkney equivalent of "wee", apparently.