set to music by Frances Cockburn
for soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus
with three part female and male verses

SATB performance time approx 2m 30s

Music

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Words

Chorus:
O hush you my baby, O hush you my love:

When lilacs are lush and bees in the blossom,
When cuckoos are calling and blackbirds do sing;
O sleep in your silence, babe of my bosom,
As through the green boughs your cradle I swing.

O smile in your sleeping, my beautiful baby,
Although our ship's rocking and waves they rise high;
Far o'er the wild water, wherever our way be,
O child of my heart, 'tis safe you shall lie.

On green hills afar the shadows they darken,
The moon's silver cradle is shining above;
Within it I'll lay you, and there you shall hearken
The songs that the stars sing, O child of my love.

anon.

Our source for the poem was The Appletree Book of Celtic Verse, compiled by W A Ross, published by Appletree (on the web at www.appletree.ie). See our links page for more details.

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces