Category Archives: FA21-Grp-08

Topic: Childhood Lullabies of Dartmouth Students

Rock-a-bye Baby (Ali Silva)

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Title: “Rock-a-Bye Baby”

General Information about Item:

  • Children’s folklore, lullaby
  • Language: English
  • Country of origin: America
  • Informant: EB
  • Date Collected: October 16, 2021

Informant Data:

  • EB was born in Palm Beach Gardens on March 22, 2002. She grew up surrounded by her extended family and lived with her mother, father, and older sister Katy. She attended private schools throughout her life and she played lacrosse, volleyball, and soccer. Her family owns a sailing company so they spent lots of time on the water. Her parents were very involved in her activities. 

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural context: This lullaby references the typical sleeping arrangement of young children in a cradle. It is important to note that this lullaby actually has very frightening lyrics, saying the cradle will fall with the baby inside which would result in injury. This lullaby, as others are, is sang in a soothing tone despite its graphic content. 
  • Social Context: EB recalls learning this song from her grandmother. She grew up living across the street from her grandparents, so she would frequently spend the night at their house. Her grandmother would sing this song to her when she was going to bed on these nights. 

Item:

“Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetops,

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,

And down will come baby, cradle and all.”

  • This lullaby is a short, rhyming song. The message of the song is scary for a child, but sung in a gentle voice, so as not to frighten the child. 

Associated File:

Informants Comments:

“My grandma still sings this song to me every so often. I don’t see her as much because she moved, but when I do see her she sings to me.”

Collector’s Comments: 

I know this lullaby from my childhood as well and it is simple so I can see how it would be widely used across America, from Florida to California. 

Collector:

Ali Silva

Dartmouth College

Russian 13

Professor Gronas and Professor Apresyan

Fall 2021

Tags:

Dartmouth

Students

Verbal Folklore

English Lullaby

Baby

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (Ali Silva)

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Title: “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”

General Information about Item:

  • Children’s folklore, lullaby
  • Language: English
  • Country of origin: America
  • Informant: BH
  • Date Collected: October 16, 2021

Informant Data:

  • BH was born in Los Angeles, California on June 22, 2000. She lived with her mother, father and older brother, Christopher. Their family did not practice any religion, but they are spiritual. She participated in lots of community service and played volleyball and soccer. Her parents both worked in a hospital as surgeons. 

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural context: This lullaby talks about a special person living abroad away from the singer. This lullaby is sung in a sweet, gentle tone because it is referencing missing your loved one and wanting them to come back to you. This lullaby may have originated during a time where there was a war and the men away at war would sing this song missing their significant others back home.  
  • Social Context: BH learned this song from her dad. He would often stay at work with late shifts, so when he came home he would sing this song to BH because he missed her while he was away at work. BH remembers this song fondly because of the connection she has with her dad through it. 

Item:

“My Bonnie lies over the ocean

My Bonnie lies over the sea

Well, my Bonnie lies over the ocean

Yeah, bring back my Bonnie to me

Yeah, bring back, ah, bring back

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me

Ah, bring, oh, bring back, ah, bring back

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me”

  • This lullaby rhymes and is often sung twice through. The song is centered around missing someone you love when they are away.  

Associated File:

Informants Comments:

“I love this song because it makes me feel connected to my dad.”

Collector’s Comments: 

I had never heard this lullaby before hearing BH sing it.  

Collector:

Ali Silva

Dartmouth College

Russian 13

Professor Gronas and Professor Apresyan

Fall 2021

Tags:

Dartmouth

Students

Verbal Folklore

English Lullaby

Ocean

“Row Row Row Your Boat” (Jennifer Wendelken)

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General Information About Item:
Verbal Folklore
Language: English
Country of Origin: USA
Informant: Carter Nelson
Date Collected: 10-15-21

Informant Data:

Carter Nelson was born on February 21, 2000. Her parents were both born in the United States where they spent most of their lives. Carter’s parents moved to the United Kingdom in 1998, where Carter was born and still currently lives. Her parents have American accents, while Carter has an English accent. She spent most of her childhood going back and forth between California and the UK. Carter is a senior on the rowing team at Dartmouth. She shared with me that this lullaby “Row Row Row Your Boat” we collected was an integral part of her childhood, and reflects her bi-continental experience growing up in the UK, with American parents.

Contextual Data

Social Context:

This lullaby was sung to Carter every night she could not sleep when she was a child up until age 8. Both her mom and dad were very familiar with the lullaby being from the United States and wanted Carter to experience a part of their American roots. Carter feels that “Row Row Row Your Boat” has become a staple in her childhood and brought her closer with her parents. She plans on continuing this tradition with her children because of her fond memories with her own parents.

Cultural Context:

This lullaby originated in the United States where both of Carter’s parents grew up. Her grandparents sang the same lullaby to Carter’s mother. It is a classic American nursery rhyme that her family has used as a lullaby for decades. It has been translated to many different languages and spread all around the world to different cultures as well.

Item:
Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream

Associated file:

Carter-NelsonDownload

Informant Comments:
“Row Row Row Your Boat has had an impact on my relationship with my parents and made a lasting impression on my memories from my childhood.”

Collector Comments:
I loved learning more about Carter’s mixed cultural upbringing by American parents in the United Kingdom. Hearing her speak about how the lullaby connected her to her mother’s childhood was moving.

Collectors Name: Jennifer Wendelken

Our Father (Emma Macaione)

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General information about item: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • A prayer sung as a lullaby 
  • Language: English
  • MA, USA
  • Informant: Nina Nesselbush 
  • Date Collected: 10-30-21

Informant Data:  Nina Nesselbush is a female student at Dartmouth in the class of 2023. She is the youngest of five sisters and grew up in Massachusetts. Nina is a Junior on the Dartmouth women’s field hockey team and is an engineering major. She shared this lullaby with me that was sung to her and her sisters before bedtime.  

Contextual Data

  • Social Context: Nina grew up in a very religious household. From as young as she can remember, this lullaby was a prayer that her mother transformed into her own tune. She was shocked to learn in church as she grew older that the prayer was not in fact a lullaby. 
  • Cultural context: This lullaby is the “Lord’s Prayer,” but Nina refers to it as “Our Father.” It is a Catholic prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples. Nina’s mother grew up in the church choir and was very familiar with hymns. Given the religious nature of her family, it was very important that Nina was involved with her religious roots at an early age.  

Item:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Informants Comments:

  • This lullaby is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about my childhood. My sister’s and I loved our mother’s voice, and found it soothing to listen to before bed. 

Collectors Comments

  • I found this prayer, turned into a lullaby, to be unique. Nina’s mother was able to incorporate religion into her daughter’s lives at a very young age. It was interesting to see the impact it had on Nina’s upbringing through her mother’s creativity 

Collector’s Name: Emma Macaione

Edelweiss (Emma Macaione)

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General information about item: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Childhood Lullaby
  • Langauge: English
  • PA, USA
  • Information: 10-22-21
  • Informant: Tamer Luzi 

Informant Data: Tamer Luzi is a member of Dartmouth’s 2024 class. She currently lives in Pennsylvania but was born in London, UK and lived there until she was 5. In her spare time, Tamer loves to watch movies. 

Contextual Data: 

Social Context: This lullaby was sung to Tamer by her grandmother whenever she visited her. The two of them would watch The Sound of Music together, and Edelweiss was Tamer’s favorite song. Tamer’s grandmother would always sing this lullaby before she went to sleep.

Cultural Context: Edelweiss is a song in The Sound Of Music. It translates to “noble white” and is a flower that can be found in the Alps. 

Item:

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Ev’ry morning you greet me
Small and White
Clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossem of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Clean and Bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossem of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Informants Comments: The Sound of Music was my favorite movie growing up and it reminds me of my grandmother. I don’t really recall many lullabies that were sung to me when I was younger, but I definitely remember Edelweiss.  

Collector’s Name: Emma Macaione

Tags: 

Verbal Folklore, English Folklore, Dartmouth, Students, Movie

Hush Little Baby (Emma Macaione)

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General information about item: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Childhood Lullaby
  • Language: English
  • Country and State of Origin: Connecticut, US 
  • Informant: Maggie O’Gorman 
  • Date Collected: 11-01-21

Informant Data: 

  • Maggie O’Gorman is a female Dartmouth student in the class of 2022. She was born and raised in Connecticut by her father. During her time at Dartmouth, Maggie plays Division 1 lacrosse and sings in an acapella group. In her time away from Dartmouth, Maggie enjoys community service, especially with her father. Given that grew up in a single-parent household as an only child, Maggie mentioned that her and her father have a very close relationship. 

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: This lullaby was sung to her, among others, before going to bed when she was young. It sends the message that no matter what happens to the person (little baby) he or she has nothing to fear, and that Papa (in Maggie’s case) would be given things to make her feel better. This message of this lullaby meant a lot to Maggie, as she mentioned that her father has always been her backbone. 
  • Cultural Context: This lullaby is a traditional, American lullaby. When singing this lullaby, she mentioned “Papa” as opposed to “Mama,” which demonstrates that the lullaby had interchangeable lyrics.

Item: 

Hush little baby, don’t say a word

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won’t sing, 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring 

And if that diamond ring turns brass, 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke, 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a billy goat 

And if that billy goat won’t pull 

Mama/ Papa’s gonna buy you a cart and bull 

And if that cart and bull fall down

You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town

Recording:

Informants Comments: This lullaby helped me fall asleep and always made me feel safe and protected with my Dad. I remember hearing someone sing using “Mama” instead of “Papa,” when I was younger, and tried to correct them because I thought the lyrics were wrong.

Collectors Comments: I found this lullaby and interview to give me an interesting perspective on how lullabies can be shifted and formed to match the identity of the deliverer. I remember this lullaby sung by my mother to me, and although Maggie remembers the lyrics with a slight difference, it is still sending the same message. 

Collector’s Name: Emma Macaione

A, You’re Adorable (Emma Macaione)

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General information about item: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Childhood Lullaby
  • Langauge: English
  • NJ, USA
  • Information date collected: 11-03-21
  • Informant: Nieve Donegan

Informant Data:

  • Nieve Donegan is a female Dartmouth student in the class of 2024. She grew up in New Jersey and is one of four.  She is in SHEBA, a dance group at Dartmouth. This lullaby was collected as one that she remembers most and notes it as the way she learned her ABCs and was sung to her before bed. 

Contextual Data: 

  • Social Context: This lullaby was sung to Nieve every night before going to bed when she was little. She notes that although it was a nursery rhyme that she heard at school, she loved the tune so much that she requested her mother sang it to her before going to bed. 
  • Cultural Context: This lullaby is a nursery rhyme used to teach young children their “ABC’s.” It is typically longer than most lullabies, but has a steady, soothing tune. Nieve loved this lullaby and noted that she would sing it to her siblings before going to bed when she got older when her mother couldn’t.  

Item: 

“A” you’re adorable
“B” you’re so beautiful
“C” you’re so cute and full of charm.
“D” you’re a darling and “E” you’re exciting
“F” you’re a feather in my arms
“G” you`re so good to me
“H” you’re so heavenly
“I” you’re the one I idolize
“J” we’re like Jack and Jill
“K” you’re so kissable,
“L” is the love light in my eyes.

“M” – “N” – “O” – “P” I could go on all day
“Q” – “R” – “S” – “T” alphabetically speaking, you’re OK
“U” made my life complete
“V” means you’re very sweet,
“W” – “X” – “Y” – “Z”…
It’s fun to wander through the alphabet with you
To tell you what you mean to me!

Audio:

Informants Comments: 

  • I loved nursery rhymes so much growing up, so I would always make my mom repeat them to me as lullaby’s before going to bed.

Collector’s Name: Emma Macaione

“Toora Loora” (Lucy Murray

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Title: “Toora Loora”

General Information about Item:

Verbal Folklore 

Language: Irish-American 

Country of Origin: USA

Informant: M.B.

Date Collected: 10-31-21

Informant Data: 

M.B. was born December 6th, 2000 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She is the youngest of 3 girls and has lived in New Jersey her whole life. Her parents are incredibly supportive of her endeavours as she is currently on the Dartmouth Field Hockey team. She enjoys being outside with friends and taking in the simple moments. M.B.’s parents are both Irish, so she grew up with many Irish lullabies before. One she highlighted that was a staple in her household was “Toora Loora”

Contextual Data: 

Social Context: 

M.B. sang this lullaby frequently during her childhood. She mentioned that both of her sisters also heard this lullaby when they were younger. Looking back, she realized that hearing this song was truly a soothing method for her when she was little. It instantly calmed her nerves and made her feel at home. 

Cultural Context: 

Being from an Irish family made this lullaby known to M.B. When interviewed, it made me realize that there are so many more lullabies out there than we realize. For M.B., she feels connected to her Irish roots when she hears this lullaby. She also mentioned that both her parents sang this lullaby as kids, so it has been in the family awhile. M.B. would consider this lullaby to be a huge part of her Childhood. 

Item: 

Over in Killarney, many years ago

My mother sang a song to me in tones so soft and low

Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way

And I’d give the world if I could hear that song of hers today

Audio: 

Informant Comments: 

My family is Irish, so this lullaby was a great way for my parents to teach us about our Irish heritage. I was actually only ever sung a part of this lullaby. There is a whole other part, but my parents kept it short and simple.  I will always remember Toora Loora and will be singing it to my children as well. My family is Irish, so this lullaby was a great way for my parents to teach us about our Irish heritage. I will always remember Toora Loora and will be singing it to my children as well. 

Collector Comments: 

I had never heard of this specific Irish lullaby before, but M.B. was extremely passionate about sharing. I learned a lot about her family and the importance of their Irish heritage. I appreciated the time I got to speak with M.B. and thought it was extremely valuable. 

Collector’s Name: Lucy Murray 

“Go to Sleep” (Lucy Murray)

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Title: “Go to sleep”

General Information about Item:

Verbal Folklore

Language: American

Country of Origin: USA

Informant: P.S.

Date Collected: 11-5-21

Informant Data: 

P.S. is 20 years old from Orange County, California. She has grown up in California and loves to be outside surrounded by family and friends. She is the oldest of 3 girls and plays lacrosse at Dartmouth College. Her parents are extremely supportive and important to her. Her Dad is involved with the football industry and is a very intelligent, creative man. This lullaby collected from P.S. has been a staple in her family for as long as her grandparents can remember. 

Contextual Data: 

Social Context: 

This lullaby was sung to P.S. growing up. Her parents shared that they heard this lullaby as children as well. P.S.’s siblings also sung this lullaby and they appreciated that for whoever it was sung to, they could change the name to personalize the lullaby. Growing up, P.S. would not be able to fall asleep without hearing this lullaby before bed.

Cultural Context: 

P.S.’s family is from the Netherlands, but for as long as she can remember her family has been in the US. So, this lullaby is American and has no relationship to P.S.’s Dutch heritage. It has become a staple in her life and her siblings’ life, and she would consider it a fundamental part of her childhood and culture growing up. 

Item: 

Go to sleep,

Go to sleep,

Go to sleep my little Peyton, close your eyes, and have sweet dreams

And in the morning we will play 

Audio: 

Informant Comments: 

I’m not really sure where this lullaby originated but it has been in my family for as long as I can remember. I love that I can vividly remember hearing this before bed and I can’t wait to pass it along to my children.

Collector Comments: 

This interview was very relatable to my own life as I did not have any lullabies that originated from a different country. However, I had many that my family has passed on throughout the years. Overall, this interview was productive and I really enjoyed speaking with Peyton. 

Collector’s Name: Lucy Murray 

“Sleep baby sleep” (Lucy Murray)

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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