Yiddish Cradle Song

O! HUSH thee, my darling, sleep soundly my son,

Sleep soundly and sweetly till day has begun;

For under the bed of good children at night

There lies, till the morning, a kid snowy white.

We’ll send it to market to buy Sechora,

While my little lad goes to study Torah.

Sleep soundly at night and learn Torah by day,

Then thou’ll be a Rabbi when I have grown grey.

But I’ll give thee to-morrow ripe nuts and a toy,

If thou’lt sleep as I bid thee, my own little boy.

(Trans. Alice Lucas.)