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.