Sleep, baby, sleep! The greeny glow-worms creep, The pigeons to their cote are gone And, to their fold, the sheep.
Rest, baby, rest! The sun sinks in the west, The daisies all have gone to sleep, The birds are in the nest.
Sleep, baby, sleep! The sky grows dark and deep, The stars watch over all the world, God's angels guard thy sleep.
Wake, baby dear! The good, glad morning's here; The dove is cooing soft and low, The lark sings loud and clear.
Wake, baby, wake! Long since the day did break, The daisy buds are all uncurled, The sun laughs in the lake.
Wake, baby dear! Thy mother's waiting near, And love, and flowers, and birds, and sun, And all things bright and dear.
Sleep, my darling; mother will sing Soft low songs to her little king, Nobody else must listen or hear The pretty secrets I tell my dear.
Sleep, my darling, sleep while you may-- Sorrow dawns with the dawning day, Sleep, my baby, sleep, my dear, Soon enough will the day be here.
Lie here quiet on mother's arm, Safe from harm; Nestled closely to mother's breast, Sleep and rest!
Mother feels your breath's soft stir Close to her; Mother holds you, clasps you tight, All the night.
When the little Jesus lay On the manger's hay, He was a Baby, if tales tell true, Just like you.
And He had no crown to wear But His bright hair; And such kisses as I give you He had too.
Mary never loved her Son More than I love my little one; And her Baby never smiled More divinely than my little child.
Sleep, my darling, sleep while you may-- Sorrow dawns with the dawning day; Sleep, my little one, sleep, my dear, All too soon will the day be here.
You said that you would never wed: "My love, my life's one work lie here, 'Mid crowded alleys, dank and drear, Where all life's flower-petals are shed!" You said.
I heard: I bowed to what I heard; I bowed my head and worshipped you-- So brave, so beautiful, so true-- How could I doubt a single word I heard?
My sweet, white lily! All the street, As you passed by, grew clean again; The fallen, blackened souls of men Looked heavenward when men heard your feet, My sweet.
But one came, dared to woo, and won-- He heard your vows, and laughed at them; He plucked my lily from its stem-- Sacred to all men under sun, But one!