The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #131847 Message #2979682
Posted By: Dan Schatz
04-Sep-10 - 01:10 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Bye'm Bye / By'm Bye (Stars Shining, etc)
Subject: RE: Origins: Bye'm Bye / By'm Bye
My mother used to sing this to us when we were growing up, and now I sing it to my son. It's a beautiful lullaby.
A few years ago I was playing around with it on the banjo and ended up writing another song, attached to it:
Bye 'n Bye Little Baby
"Bye 'n Bye" lullaby traditional, additional song by Dan Schatz
Bye 'n bye
Bye 'n bye
Stars shining number, number one,
Number two, number three, good Lord
Bye 'n bye, bye 'n bye, good Lord
Bye, 'n bye
Bye 'n bye
Bye 'n bye
Stars shining number, number four,
Number five, number six, good Lord
Bye 'n bye, bye 'n bye, good Lord
Bye, 'n bye
Evening shadow's coming on
You and I, my little child, are left here 'till the dawn
To rock away the hours with gentle thoughts and moonlit songs
And wish these days were gone
Chorus:
Bye 'n bye, little baby-o; it's time to go to sleep
Your mother works in the weaving mills; your father's on the deep
Oh baby, go to sleep
Shuttles click and clatter in the mills
While you lie peaceful in your cradle sheltered by these hills
Your mother's shifting bobbins as they labor on the looms
To give her babe a room
Chorus
Father is far away at sea
To fight the wars of other men, it's a sailor he must be
While out on deck the ocean waves bring dreams of love and home
And a babe he's never known
Chorus
Hush now babe, there is no need.
One day soon you'll go to school; you'll learn to count and read
You'll grow into a better life with babies of your own
And at night you'll stay at home
Final Chorus:
Bye 'n bye, little baby-o; it's time to go to sleep
Your mother's love flies home from weaving, father's from the deep
Oh baby, go to sleep
Bye 'n bye
Bye 'n bye
Stars shining number, number seven,
Number eight, number nine, number ten, good Lord
Bye 'n bye, bye 'n bye, good Lord
Bye, 'n bye
©2006 by Dan Schatz
Thirty-six String Music
Dan