Poem Cradle Song

Cradle Song – by Edwin Waugh

From Poems and Songs, Second Series, Edwin Waugh's Works, Oldham W. E. Clegg, 1889. Also in ‘My North Countrie – An anthology of poetry and prose of the northern counties’ collected and arranged by Wilfred Pickles. George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1955.

The tune, so far as I know, is my own.

Cradle Song

Th’ child cries i’ th’ cradle;
Th’ cake bruns o’ th’ stone;
Th’ cow moos i’ th’ milking gap,
At th’ end o’ th’ loan.

The cat purs o’ th’ hearthstone;
Th’ clock ticks i’ th’ nook;
Th’ kettle sings o’ th’ hob; an’
Th’ pon hangs o’ th’ hook.

Th’ woint roars i’ th’ chimbley;
Brings down the soot;
Mam knits, an’ sings, an’
Rocks with her fuut.

Nan’s off a-churnin’;
Dick’s gone to th’ barn;
Lap little Billy up,
To keep him warm.

Round Billy’s curly yed,
Good fairies play;
Tentin’ his little bed,
Till break o’ day.

One day brings sunshine;
Th’ next day brings rain;
No day brings Billy’s dad
Back here again.

Sleep, little darlin’, sleep;
God watch o’er thee!
Thou’rt o’ that’s left i’ th’ world,
To comfort me!

Audio File: You may need to Allow Active X to listen.

Go to the Glossary for help with any unusual words, such as 'pon'.

Stone - 'bak-stone' or baking stone

Hook - the 'rack and hook' in the chimney

Return to index of Lancashire dialect poems

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