Rock-a-bye-baby

---

There are a number of theories about the origine of this song. One suggests it was written in the 17th century by an English immigrant in the American colonies, who watched native American women rock their babies in cradles hanging from the trees. The wind helped rock them to sleep.

In this Turkish lullaby, a mother sings about calves straying into the garden and asks God to protect her baby from the evil eye, wishing for a good and happy future for her children.

This popular traditional French song may have appeared as early as 1604 with first French settlement in Quebec. The song features in the 2006 film ‘’The Painted Veil,” performed by a children’s choir. It speaks of lost love. It’s long since I loved you, I will never forget you, goes the chorus.

Wróżki:  the lyrics for this lullaby was written by Dorota Gellner, a contemporary Polish writer of children books, songs and poems. It was recorded by Grzegorz Turnau on his bestselling album of lullabies Kołysanki – Utulanki.

This Nigerian lullaby in Yoruba is an ode to motherhood. My mother is like a diamond that no money can buy. You carried me for nine months in your womb and nursed me for three years. I thank you! The track also features parts from poem ‘My Mother’ by 19th century English poet Ann Taylor.

This is a Jewish lullaby, which featured in Abraham Goldfaden’s Yiddish musical ‘’Shulamith.’’  He is considered one of the fathers of modern Jewish theater. In the song, a widowed mother rocks her baby son Yidele to sleep, telling him one day he will be trading in raisins and almonds and become a merchant to earn a lot of money. 

Also known as Coulter’s Candy, the song was written by a Galashiels weaver, Robert Coltard, in the 19th century. He used the song as an advertising jingle for aniseed-flavoured sweets manufactured in Melrose in the Scottish borders. All you need is a wee bawbee (halfpenny) for Coulter’s candy!

As Dream walks past windows, looking for a place to stay for the night, it come upon a warm house with a little baby. This song is said to have inspired George Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’. Ukrainian composer Alexis Kochan suggested that Gershwin was influenced by the performance of the Koshetz Ukrainian National Choir at Carnegie Hall in 1929.

The baby is crying, giving his mother no peace. Sleep, my beautiful baby, or I will give you to a wicked witch (La Befana) and she will keep you for a week, goes this Italian lullaby. If a boogey man (l'uomo nero) comes, he will steal the baby away for a year. Where is my patience?

A polar bear sings a lullaby to its cub, Umka, in a much-loved 1969 Soviet cartoon. Umka (a male polar bear in the language of the Chukchi, a people of Russia’s far north) meets a Chukcha boy, and they become friends. Umka goes on a journey to look for his new friend when people move on.

This lullaby is thought to be one of the most famous children's rhymes across the Levantine area of the Middle East and was popularised by Fairouz, one of the region's most well-known singers.  The mother sings that she wishes to put her baby -- a little girl named Rima -- to sleep. 

This is a Russian lullaby from a popular children's program ''Good night, little ones!'' (Cпокойной ночи, малыши!)

This is an old traditional Georgian lullaby, originally sung to sick children to help them recover. It appeals to the spirits afflicting the child with smallpox, measles or scarlet fever, asking for their recovery. The song also refers to roses, which feature prominently in the national folklore and literature and are a symbol of Georgia.

The lyrics to this lullaby about a cricket was written by Latvian poet Aspazja and put to music by her compatriot, composer Raimonds Pauls. The song was performed by a mother to her little son in the Soviet film ''Long road in the dunes'' about a post-WWII romance.