The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #26070   Message #316902
Posted By: Thyme2dream
12-Oct-00 - 12:22 AM
Thread Name: Scottish Emigrant Songs
Subject: Lyr Add: SMILE IN YOUR SLEEP (Jim McLean)^^^
The song mentioned earlier-Don't Cry In Your Sleep-is very like a song that I heard sung in Scotland called 'Highland Lullabye'. There appears to be a bit more "dialect" in this version, as well as a verse that isn't in the other...the tune is lovely and haunting, I will see if I can find it online somewhere.

The Highland Lullabye

Once our valleys were ringing,
To sounds o' the children a singing.
Now sheep bleat a' through the evening,
And shielings lie empty and broken.

CHORUS
Hush, hush, time to be sleeping,
Hush, hush, dreams come a creeping.
Dreams o' peace and our freedom.
Don't cry in your sleep, bonnie bairnie.

We stood, our heads bowed in prayer,
Whilst factors made the cottages bare.
The flames filled the clear mountain air,
And many lay dead in the morning.

Chorus

Where now our brave highland metal,
Our men, once, so fearless in battle
Now stand, cowed, huddled like cattle,
And wait to be shipped o'er the ocean.

No use in pleading or praying,
Gone now, all hope o' staying.
Hush, hush, the anchor's a' weighing,
Don't cry in your sleep, bonnie bairnie.