This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
A Mother’s cradle song
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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A Mother’s cradle song by John Cheshire — Lyrics
A MOTHER’S CRADLE SONG
Gently, gently fall sweet sleep
O’er thine eyelids soft and deep;
Gently, as the breath of flowers
In the bright noon’s honeyed hours;
Gently, as the dews of heaven
On the wild rose at the even.
Thou art pure, my darling boy!
Lovely, bright, and full of joy,
Slumbering without dream of care,
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About A Mother’s cradle song
This gentle English text describes a mother’s tender lullaby to her sleeping child. The composer John Cheshire sets the words for SATB choir, capturing the peaceful atmosphere of the opening lines and the mother's loving, protective hopes for her son's future. While the original poem includes prayers for God's guidance through life's challenges, the musical setting focuses on the immediate scene of serene slumber and the pure joy of a child. This secular partsong is ideal for choirs looking for a tender and evocative piece that speaks directly to universal themes of parental love and innocence, sung in a straightforward, accessible style.
