Richard Gall (1776-1801). Cradle Song. William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. 1909. The Book of Georgian Verse

William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909.

Cradle Song

By Richard Gall (1776–1801)


BALOO, baloo, my wee wee thing,
O saftly close thy blinkin’ e’e!
Baloo, baloo, my wee wee thing,
For thou art doubly dear to me.
Thy daddy now is far awa’,	5
A sailor laddie o’er the sea;
But hope aye hechts his safe return
To you, my bonnie lamb, and me.

Baloo, baloo, my wee wee thing,
O saftly close thy blinkin’ e’e!	10
Baloo, baloo, my wee wee thing,
For thou art doubly dear to me.
Thy face is simple, sweet, and mild,
Like ony simmer e’ening fa’;
Thy sparkling e’e is bonnie black;	15
Thy neck is like the mountain snaw.

Baloo, baloo, my wee wee thing,
O saftly close thy blinkin’ e’e!
Baloo, baloo, my wee wee thing,
For thou art doubly dear to me.	20
O, but thy daddie’s absence, lang,
Might break my dowie heart in twa,
Wert thou na left, a dawtit pledge,
To steal the eerie hours awa.