Lullabies by Patricia Spaeth

Patricia Spaeth (1948); How does Sleep come to you? Patricia: “There’s moment when your thoughts get fuzzy and you realize “That’s not logical – good – I’m falling asleep.”  When I have a trouble falling asleep I play alphabet games in my head (apple, berry, cherry, daikon…). Sounds of a distant train whistle, purring cat, rain on the roof, low talking radio, ticking clock are good to fall asleep… I love the smell of ponderosa pines. It reminds me of summers of Girl Scout. I love the taste of lemon drops, ripe blackberries with pears.”

               Siembaba - Mommy’s Baby

               Siembaba -  Mommy’s baby,

Siembaba - Mommy’s baby,

Twist neck and hit,

Hit on his neck,

Throw him in the ditch head,

He’ll be dead.

Siembaba Mommy’s baby: To keep evil spirits away from the baby, Mama declares how little she loves it. (See songs of the Veld by Josef Marais and Miranda). “It is at its best when sung by a native mother as a lullaby with a “bogey man” flavor.” (Quote 14 songs from South Africa “Songs from the Veld” by Josef Marais) http://schotanus.us/music/Sheetmusic_SA/Songs_from_South_Africa.pdf

Whatcha Gonna Do With the Baby?

Whatcha gonna do with the baby,

Whatcha gonna do with the baby,

Whatcha gonna do with the baby,

Whatcha gonna do with the baby,

Whatcha gonna do when the baby cry?

Stick my finger in the baby’s eye,

Wrap him up in the table cloth,

Throw him up in the old hay of loft,

Baby walks, baby talks,

Baby eats with a knife and fork.

Whatcha gonna do with the baby: Every mother feels inadequate sometimes, this song lets her express her frustration. Can also be a play song.” (Patricia Spaeth)

Hush-a-Bye

Hush-bye, don’t you cry,

Go to sleepy, little baby,

When you wake, you’ll shall have

All the pretty horses,

Blacks and bays, dapples and greys,

Coach and four a little horses.

Way down yonder in the meadow,

There’s little lambie

Bees and butterflies flutter ‘round eyes,

The poor little thing cries Mammy!

“This song is the lullaby sung to a white plantation baby by the black “Mommy.” While the baby’s mother is handling the plantation business the Mammy tends the baby while her own child is in a basket out in the fields.” (Patricia Spaeth)

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