"Baloo Baleerie" is a Scottish lullaby. The title is alliterative nonsense based around the Scots word for lullaby, "baloo". As it is based on a recording in the BBC Glasgow Archives made on 22 January 1949 on the Shetland island of Bressay, it is also known as "The Bressay Lullaby",.[1][2] It was first published in 1951 by Alan Lomax.[citation needed] An English version, "Go Away, Little Fairies" has also been published.[3]
Lyrics
editThe first verse refers to the story of the changeling, whereby a fairy would secretly substitute its own offspring for an unguarded human baby. In the first verse, the fairies are told to leave, while in the second verse, guardian angels are asked to protect the child. The third verse advises the child to sleep softly.
Bressay Lullaby[4] | Baloo Baleerie | English Translation | Go Away, Little Fairies[3] |
---|---|---|---|
Baloo balilli, Baloo balilli, Baloo balilli, baloo ba |
Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie Baloo baleerie, baloo balee |
Lullaby baleerie, lullaby baleerie Lullaby baleerie, lullaby balee |
Hush-a-by, hush-a-by Go to sleep, go to sleep |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ MacGregor 1964.
- ^ Association for Cultural Equity.
- ^ a b Carlin 1985, p. 23.
- ^ Sinclair.
Bibliography
edit- MacGregor, Jimmie (1964). "Sleeve Notes". Scotch and Irish (Media notes). Robin Hall & Jimmie Macgregor. Decca. DECCA LK 4601 LP. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-04-27.
- "The Bressay Lullaby". BBC Disc Accession #13199, recorded in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, January 22, 1949. Association for Cultural Equity. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- Carlin, Richard (1985). The Lullaby Book. New York: Amsco Publications. ISBN 0-8256-2337-5.
- Sinclair, Elizabeth. "The Bressay Lullaby". Kist o Riches. Tobar an Dualchais. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
External links
edit- "Baloo Baleerie" Sheet Music
- "Lyrics, Origins and History of 'Baloo Baleerie'". Anthology of Kid's Songs, Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes. TwinkleTrax Children's Songs. 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.