"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. An English version, "Go Away, Little Fairies" has also been published.[3]

Lyrics

The 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.

Complete lyrics
Bressay Lullaby[4] Baloo Baleerie English Translation Go Away, Little Fairies[3]
Baloo balilli, Baloo balilli,

Baloo balilli, baloo ba

Ging awa peerie fairies,
Fae my peerie bairn,
Ging awa peerie fairies,
Fae wir bairn noo.

Baloo balilli, Baloo balilli,
Baloo balilli, baloo ba

Dan come bonny angels,
Tae wir peerie bairn,
Dan come bonny angels,
Tae wir bairn noo.

Baloo balilli, Baloo balilli,
Baloo balilli, baloo ba

Dey'll sheen ower da cradle,
O wir peerie bairn,
Dey'll sheen ower da cradle,
O wir bairn noo.

Baloo balilli, Baloo balilli,
Baloo balilli, baloo ba

 Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie

Baloo baleerie, baloo balee

Gang awa' peerie faeries,
Gang awa' peerie faeries,
Gang awa' peerie faeries,
Frae oor ben noo.

Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie, baloo balee

Doon come the bonny angels,
Doon come the bonny angels,
Doon come the bonny angels,
Tae oor ben noo.

Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie, baloo balee

Sleep saft my baby,
Sleep saft my baby,
Sleep saft my baby,
In oor ben noo.

Baloo baleerie, baloo baleerie
Baloo baleerie, baloo balee

Lullaby baleerie, lullaby baleerie

Lullaby baleerie, lullaby balee

Go away, little fairies,
Go away, little fairies,
Go away, little fairies,
From our home now

Lullaby baleerie, lullaby baleerie
Lullaby baleerie, lullaby balee

Down come the pretty angels,
Down come the pretty angels,
Down come the pretty angels,
To our home now

Lullaby baleerie, lullaby baleerie
Lullaby baleerie, lullaby balee

Sleep soft, my baby
Sleep soft, my baby
Sleep soft, my baby
In our home now

Lullaby baleerie, lullaby baleerie
Lullaby baleerie, lullaby balee

Hush-a-by, hush-a-by

Go to sleep, go to sleep
Hush-a-by, hush-a-by
Go to sleep my babe

Go away, little fairies
Go away, little fairies
Go away, little fairies
My babe must sleep

Hush-a-by, hush-a-by
Go to sleep, go to sleep
Hush-a-by, hush-a-by
Go to sleep my babe

Watch o'er him, blessèd angels,
Watch o'er him, blessèd angels,
Watch o'er him, blessèd angels,
My babe will sleep

Hush-a-by, hush-a-by
Go to sleep, go to sleep
Hush-a-by, hush-a-by
Go to sleep my babe

See also

References

Bibliography

  • 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.
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