Lullin the Littlin - Zetta Sinclair

Verse 1:

Lie doon my bonnie wee littlin

Roon wi yer een tae the wa

Noo lie doon my bairnie and sleep bonnie sleepies

Mammy will rock ye awa

Verse 2:

And dream o yer Daddie's wee boatie

Sailin' sae blythe on the sea

And fin ye are wakened yer Daddy he's comin'

Wi fishies tae fry tae yer tea.

Verse 3:

And dream o the bonnie wee wavies

Dancin sae blythe on the sea

And fin ye are wakened the tide will be turning

And I'll tak ye widin wi me.

Verse 4:

And dream o the bonnie wee buckies

Nestlin sae snug in the san'

And fin ye are wakened the gamies ye'll play there

Lost in yer ain wonderland

Repeat verse 1:

So lie doon my bonnie wee littlin'

Roon wi yer een tae the wa

Noo lie doon my bairnie and sleep bonnie sleepies

Mammy will rock ye awa

Hush-a-ba baloo loo la

Glossary:

littlin - little one

een - eyes

blythe - cheerful

tae yer tea - for your evening meal

widin - wading, paddling

buckies - periwinkles or whelks

This song was released twice by Isla St Clair - on her 1972 album "Isla St Clair Sings Traditional Scottish Songs" and again in 1996 on "Scenes of Scotland", a collection of poems and songs all by Zetta which Isla recorded as a personal tribute to her mother.  She also sang it for the 1995 BBC Radio 2 series, "Tatties and Herrin" and the song appeared on the CD which accompanied the series. Zetta had already enjoyed success with the song, winning a folk festival prize for it.  She was a founding member of the Aberdeen Folk Club and this and her friendship with Jeannie Robertson were to prove influential in Isla's early career.