Title: “Sleep baby sleep”

General Information about Item:

Verbal Folklore

Language: English

Country of Origin: USA

Informant: K.E.

Date Collected: 11-4-21

Informant Data: 

K.E. was born October 5th, 2001. She is currently a Junior at Dartmouth College studying History. K.E. has lived in Darien, Connecticut her whole life and is a middle child. Her parents both work full time and are supportive of all her endeavors. Her mind is constantly wandering and she’s intrigued by our imagination. She remembers one lullaby as it was one that she used her imagination the most. 

Contextual Data: 

Social Context: 

K.E. shared with us that this lullaby came from her grandmother. It was just a lullaby to others, but to K.E. it meant so much more as it bonded her to her grandmother, Josie. “Sleep, baby sleep” was a staple for K.E. growing up. She would not be able to fall asleep without hearing it before bed. Although this lullaby does not originate from a specific place that K.E.’s family is from, it still helped shape her and stay connected to her family, especially those who she may not have been as close with. 

Item:

Sleep, baby, sleep 

Your father tends the sheep 

Your mother shakes the dreamland tree 

And from it fall sweet dreams for thee 

Sleep, baby, sleep 

Sleep, baby, sleep 

Audio: 

Informant Comments: 

This lullaby will forever hold a special place in my heart because my grandma is such an important person in my life. To this day she is someone I am incredibly grateful for and being able to share this lullaby with her early on in life helped our relationship flourish throughout my childhood. 

Collector Comments: 

This interview was incredibly sentimental and I really appreciated K.E.’s willingness to open up about her relationship with her grandma. She loves her grandma so much and it shined through during our conversation. 

Collector’s Name: Lucy Murray