Straight No Chaser Discussion

All Through the Night

S. Brandon says
(20100507T044558Z )

This has become one of my all-time SNC favorites in record time (no pun intended).  I wanted to find out how old the song was but haven't yet come across that information.  I did find the following on About.com:

 

Origin of Lullabies 

Lullabies or berceuse, a French word which means "cradle song," are believed to have emerged from the 19th century. It is a song or an instrumental music usually in 6/8 time that is sung or performed to lull a child to sleep. Lullabies are most often played on the piano and has a rythmic pattern; somewhat like being rocked steadily, that is repeated throughout the composition.

"All Through the Night" - An ancient Welsh folk song, the English lyrics were written by Harold Boulton.

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night.
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night.

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping
Hill and vale in slumber sleeping  (I think the guys sing "dale")
I my loving vigil keeping
All through the night. 

While the moon her watch is keeping
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping
All through the night

O'er thy spirit gently stealing
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling
All through the night. 

(I had never hear this third verse, but I'm glad they didn't use it; sounds a little depressing to go to sleep by.  :-)

Love, to thee my thoughts are turning
All through the night
All for thee my heart is yearning
All through the night.
Though sad fate our lives may sever
Parting will not last forever
There's a hope that leaves me never
All through the night.

 

I could almost swear I learned this in early elementary school when they were also teaching us songs from WWII.   

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Comments (6)

    SheriS says
    (20100508T012958Z )

    My Mom loved to sing me to sleep at night when I was a wee child. This was one of favorites and I can still hear her singing it to me. That was many, many moons ago but I still think of her every time I hear it. Love the words as they are very comforting.

    • SNCChasers
    S. Brandon says
    (20100507T225802Z )

    Thanks, cindy - that means it is a lot older than I thought it might be. Good to know. Such a lilting melody.

    Sarah Liz says
    (20100507T053954Z )

    I learned this song (well, the first verse) in jr. high. Our choir director taught it to us when she was giving us lessons on proper breathing. She said that if we were breathing properly, we should be able to do the whole verse in one breath. And a week later, she graded us on it.

    I got an "A". :)

    Anyway, I've never forgotten the first verse, but I also never knew it was part of a much longer tune. And I'm loving the SNC arrangement of it.

    cindy says
    (20100507T050242Z )

    oops make that 1784... the title of the welsh version is "Ar Hyd y Nos" I found it with wikopedia.

    cindy says
    (20100507T050029Z )

    it is translated from a welsh lullaby from 1720

    • SNCChasers
    S. Brandon says
    (20100507T044800Z )

    Now this is seriously weird: I clicked "edit" to fix a couple of things, and it took me to a page with a bunch of "I like vanilla" things on it. Twice. Web crew, you want to check that out?

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