The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #85364   Message #1581396
Posted By: andrewq
11-Oct-05 - 07:42 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Child cries in t' cradle (Yorkshire)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Child cries in t' cradle (Lancashire)
The lyric is by the "Lancashire Laureate", Edwin Waugh (1817-1890). There have been at least two different published tunes.

One tune by C.E. Rowley was published in "Twenty Songs by Edwin Waugh with music by C.E. Rowley", (Publisher: John Heywood, Manchester & London, 1899).

One tune by Robert Jackson published as Slumber Song in "A Set of Twelve Songs words by Edwin Waugh music by Robert Jackson", (Publisher: Forsyth Brothers, London & Manchester, c.1929?)

Th'child cries i'th cradle;
Th'cake bruns o'th stone;
Th'cow moos i'th milkin' gap,
At th'end o'th loan.

Th'cat purs o'th hearthstone;
Th'clock ticks i'th nook;
Th'owd kettle sings o'th hob
Th'pon hangs o'th hook.

Th'woint roars i'th chimbley;
Brings down the soot;
Mam knits, an' sings, an'
Rocks with her fuut.

Nan's off a-churnin';
Dick's gone to th'barn;
Lap little Billy up,
To keep him warm.

Round Billy's curly yed,
Good fairies play;
Tentin' his little bed,
Till break o' day.

One day brings sunshine;
Th'next day brings rain;
No day brings Billy's dad
Back here again.

Sleep, little darlin', sleep;
God watch o'er thee!
Thou'rt o' that's left i'th world,
To comfort me!