Lullabyes

Subject: Lullabies
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 May 19 - 06:54 AM

Just struck me what a strange concept lullabies are. Why would anyone write a song with the sole intention of making someone go to sleep?

:D tG

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 May 19 - 07:19 AM

The peoples of the Caucasus have a category of "Lullabies for the dying", to persuade them to get it over with. They are mostly surreal black humour.

There is a brilliant sleeve note in the collection of extremely multi-ethnic and multilingual lullabies from Turkey, "Anadolu Ninnileri" from Kalan Müzik. The editor points out that in an exogamic society, a new bride gets dumped miles from home with no friends and with in-laws who treat her as a domestic appliance. Lullabies are mostly bitter expressions of hopeless loneliness, poured out to a new baby who can't understand a word.

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Marje
Date: 03 May 19 - 07:52 AM

Anyone who's been the fulltime carer for a baby or small child knows very well the lengths you'd go to in order to get a child to sleep. Unless the child sleeps, you don't get any sleep yourself.

Marje

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 May 19 - 08:00 AM

Anyone who's been the fulltime carer for a baby or small child

Only 5 times including twins...

I always found that gripe water was very effective. But that was before they removed the alcohol :-)

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Marje
Date: 03 May 19 - 08:49 AM

And you can't imagine why anyone would write a song to induce sleep?!!

Marje

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 03 May 19 - 04:57 PM

I was going to add something deep and meaningful but Marje has said it all.

DC

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 May 19 - 05:33 PM

We don't need deep and meaningful, Doug. Did no one notice the opening smiley?

Ah well, I suppose I should just stay miserable...

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Jos
Date: 04 May 19 - 12:17 PM

No, I didn't notice the opening smiley. Do you mean the colon before the D for Dave? If I had noticed that, I would have just thought it was a mistake in your typing.

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: leeneia
Date: 04 May 19 - 01:00 PM

Sad to say, Dave, your smiley didn't come through.

Sometimes people sing lullabies when no baby is present at all. Lullabies can be lovely to sing in and of themselves.

Another kid of lullaby is the Berceuse of classical music. Very beautiful. But you probably know that already.

Subject: RE: Lullabyes
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 19 - 02:30 PM

Well, never mind. You will know better next time

:D tG