Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night
Angels watching, e'er around thee,
All through the night
Midnight slumber close surround thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night
While the moon her watch is keeping
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping
All through the night
O'er thy spirit gently stealing
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling
All through the night
Angels watching ever round thee
All through the night
In thy slumbers close surround thee
All through the night
They will of all fears disarm thee,
No forebodings should alarm thee,
They will let no peril harm thee
All through the night.
Though I roam a minstrel lonely
All through the night
My true harp shall praise sing only
All through the night
Love's young dream, alas, is over
Yet my strains of love shall hover
Near the presence of my lover
All through the night
Hark, a solemn bell is ringing
Clear through the night
Thou, my love, art heavenward winging
Home through the night
Earthly dust from off thee shaken
Soul immortal shalt thou awaken
With thy last dim journey taken
Home through the night
History
This enchanting lullaby was written by Edward Jones around 1784. Mr. Jones was an exceptional harp player. He moved from Wales to London in the 1770's where he taught and performed harp music. His talent soon had him tutoring wealthy families and he ultimately moved into the St. James Palace as the official harpist for the Prince of Wales.
The original Welsh title of the lullaby was "Ar Hyd y Nos." It is sung to a tune recorded in the Musical and Poetical relics of the Welsh Bards by Edward Jones. The lyrics are attributed to John Ceiriog Hughes.
We have included all the verses of this beautiful lullaby that we could find though Amy generally sings only the first four.
