“Cape Breton Lullaby” by Kenneth Leslie

Sung by Garvey Mary (1948)

Driftwood is burning blue,
wild walk the wall shadows,
Night winds go riding by,
riding by the lochie meadows.
On to the ring of day
flows Mira's stream, singing:
Caidil gu lo, laddie, lo, laddie,
sleep the stars away.

Far on Beinn Bhreagh's side
wander the lost lambies.
Here, there and everywhere,
everywhere their troubled mammies
Find them and fold them deep,
fold them to sleep, singing:
Caidil gu lo, laddie, lo, laddie,
sleep the dark away.

Daddy is on the bay,
he'll keep the pot brewing,
Keep all from tumbling down,
tumbling down to rack and ruin;
Pray, Mary, send him home
safe from the foam, singing:
Caidil gu lo, laddie, lo, laddie,
sleep the night away.