Not Specifically Written for Halloween, but . . .

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Mom used to sing this to me as a lullaby. It probably explains a lot.

Quiet! Sleep! or I will make

Erinnys whip thee with a snake,

And cruel Rhadamanthus take

Thy body to the boiling lake,

Where fire and brimstones never slake;

Thy heart shall burn, thy head shall ache,

And ev’ry joint about thee quake;

And therefor dare not yet to wake!

Quiet, sleep!

Quiet, sleep!

Quiet! Quiet!

Sleep! or thou shalt see

The horrid hags of Tartary,

Whose tresses ugly serpants be,

And Cerberus shall bark at thee,

And all the Furies that are three

The worst is called Tisiphone,

Shall lash thee to eternity;

And therefor sleep thou peacefully

Quiet, sleep!

Quiet, sleep!

Quiet!

The text dates to 1632, which suggests that early modern toddlers were no more sleepy than the modern version.

https://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/song/1554

Happy Halloween!

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4 thoughts on “Not Specifically Written for Halloween, but . . .”

  2. Sung to the tune of Brahm’s Lullaby

    Go to sleep
    little creep
    I’m tired and I’m beat.
    Go to sleep
    little creep
    before I drop you

    My 14 yo brother would sing this to my daughter 40 years ago.

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