Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby (Ray Nelson)

Subject: Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby
From: GUEST,seth in Olympia
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 12:33 AM

My wife taught me a lullaby some forty years ago and we have been singing it to kids of our own and others since then. She says she learned it from Ray Nelson, a science fiction writer in the Bay Area.
I can't reproduce the tune, but the lyrics start out:

Sunrise in the morning
Moonrise in the evening
Star rise while my baby's asleep....

Does anyone know this song besides the two us and the kids we sung it to?

Subject: RE: Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 02:27 AM

Well, there's a fragment here (click)

written by Ray Nelson in Albany(Berkeley) 1950/1960 - The words marvelous ---
Sample lines: Sunrise in the morning, Moonrise in the evening, Starrise when my baby's asleep ....... brother Frog will sing, Granny clock-bell will ring, sister Cat will see all is well .... the Wind has a story to tell

Subject: RE: Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 05:51 AM

Could I ask why the lullaby is described as pataphysical ?

See also Alfred Jarry.

De par ma chandelle verte!

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby
From: GUEST,seth in Olympia
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 08:51 AM

I haven't got a clue. That's what I thought the name was. I don't how it connects with Alfred Jarry, but it's a good song to sing your little one to sleep. My daughter called me up recently to check on the words so that she can sing it for her baby.
seth

Subject: RE: Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 10:39 AM

I googled 'Ray Nelson lullaby' and was taken to this page. I believe this is it.

http://folksongcollector.com/nelson.html

Subject: ADD: Nelson Lullaby
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 07:24 PM

Bingo! I googled every whichway and didn't find it.


Here's the song:

NELSON LULLABY
(written by Ray Nelson extemporaneously for his son Walter in 1959)

Sunrise in the mornin'
Moonrise in the evenin'
Starrise while my baby's asleep,
Papa sun is sleeping,
Mama moon is keeping
Watch so the baby stars don't weep.

Brother frog will sing,
Granny clockbell will ring,
Sister cat will see all is well.
Friend teddy bear is here,
And puppy-dog is near,
And the wind has a story to tell.

Leeneia found the song on Miriam Berg's Website, folksongcollector.com. Miriam is from my area and I think I've met her, but I don't really know her.
-Joe-

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Subject: RE: Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby (Ray Nelson)
From: GUEST,Seth from Olympia
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 08:06 PM

Thanks y'all. That's the one. All my kids and grandkids got a taste, and they always want us to sing it. The tune is pretty simple, but I don't know how to reproduce it here
seth

Subject: RE: Origins: Pataphysical Lullaby (Ray Nelson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 08:17 PM

Hi, Seth - the tune is at this address: http://folksongcollector.com/nelson.html
I'm in the process of transcribing a MIDI, so there should soon be a "click to play" link under the lyrics I posted.
-Joe-

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