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Goodnight Irene

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It’s odd to see news about New York City preparing for a possible direct hit by Hurricane Irene. Even though the chances are still slim at this point, it takes time to batten down so many glittering hatches, so New Yorkers are taking the prudent course by calling off concerts, moving up the timing of sporting events and even preparing to shut down the transit system.

In Washington, they’ve regretfully cancelled the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Harry Johnson, the president of the foundation that built the memorial, spoke of disappointment and resignation. The dedication won’t happen on the anniversary of the “I Have a Dream Speech”, but there will be other opportunities to celebrate.

“The memorial is going to be there forever,” he said.

And Hurricane Irene will come and go. The sooner it goes, the better. Here’s a famous old song to send it on its way.

Favorite lullaby?

112 thoughts on “Goodnight Irene”

  1. Does anyone know why Goodnight Irene was considered so controversial that The Weavers and Pete Seeger couldn’t sing it in the 50’s?

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    1. As I gather from Wikipedia, the Weavers version was not faithful to his original version, which had many dark and suicidal lyrics, which made a few purists unhappy.. That’s the only controversy they seem to know of.

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    2. I don’t believe that Goodnight Irene was what got the Weavers banned from TV and Radio during the early 50s. Lee Hays and Pete Seeger were both brought in front of the Un-American Activities Committee, and Seeger was found in contempt (later the verdict was overturned). During the Rad Scare, Pete was blacklisted and as a result the Weavers were banned.

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  2. I’m a fan of “John O’Dreams” – sang that one to Daughter a lot when she was a baby. A friend got me stuck on it many moons ago when he was playing in a local Irish/folk band and it was an occasional part of their sets. Can still hear his lovely tenor singing it in my head. How can you go wrong with such a lovely Tschaikovsky tune as the backbone?

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  3. Strange question for me today. I am back to working on the novelized version of my childhood. I know my mother sand me a lullaby on rare occasions but have no idea what it was. What would a non-musical woman have sung as a lullaby to a child in post-WWII MN?
    I think if I counted my joint pains this morning I would then know how many joints I have.

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    1. Wild stab in the dark, but I think there are several hymns that make nice lullabies-esp. Children of the Heavenly Father. I used Thy Holy Wings a lot myself, but only after I learned it as an adult in choir.

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      2. Children of the Heavenly Father may not have been one that Clyde’s mother sang, but it was one my family sang to my dad when he was in the hospital waiting transfer to hospice care (and then also the little time he was in hospice). That was one hymn, along with a few others, that was calming and soothing for him – we weren’t sure how much “there” was still “there” but it was clear that old standard hymns were so ingrained in the muscle memory of his brain that they provided some connection to the world, and it helped when he got agitated.

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      3. Well, since I am not an atheist and I am a former pastor, I can tell you that I have very often seen that happen. Very often pastors touching and praying with or reading the Bible to or offering symbolic communion will evoke a response from those who are said to be “not there.” The most humbling experiences in my life is having the family or a nurse tell me that “she/he is gone” and then have them turn and look at me as I touched them and spoke right into their face telling them it was pastor.

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  5. My father made up verses to Brahms Lullaby, using the names of all my relatives and friends and pets and how they all loved me. I sang the same way to my children.

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    2. What a lovely memory, Renee. Brahms Lullaby is probably my all-time favorite lullaby, though I have no memory of ever being sung to as a child.

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      3. No, the Brahms Lullaby is not the same thing as “Rock a bye baby in the tree tops.” the tunes are sort of similar in some ways, so your confusion is understandable.

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  6. Right here in our own back yard we have a delightful recording of Lullabies for Everybody by Leandra Peak. Radio Heartland streams the occasional song from it.

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  8. Good morning to all,

    The following Bo Diddley song is base on the lullaby, Hush Little Baby, and is a favorite of mine. As you read it you should accompany it with the trade mark Diddley beat, Just read a line, then go bop, bop, bop, pause, bop, bop, then read another line, then do the bopping again, then another line, etc.

    Bo Diddley bought his babe a diamond ring,
    (here is the first place where you go – bop, bop, bop, pause, bop,bop)
    If that diamond ring don’t shine,
    He gonna take it to a private eye,
    If that private eye can’t see
    He’d better not take the ring from me.

    Bo Diddley caught a nanny goat,
    To make his pretty baby a Sunday coat,
    Bo Diddley caught a bear cat,
    To make his pretty baby a Sunday hat.

    Mojo come to my house, ya black cat bone,
    Take my baby away from home,
    Ugly ole mojo, where ya bin,
    Up your house, and gone again.

    Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley have you heard?
    My pretty baby said she wasn’t for it.

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    2. My mom used to sing me the standard version of this…I think if she had sung the Bo Diddley version, I wouldn’t have gotten to sleep for days.

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  9. Morning all. My mom didn’t sing to me when I was a kid. Lots of book reading my first few years, but not songs.

    However, when the teenager was a baby, I did a few lullabies, even though it was outside my comfort zone. “Pretty Little Horses” mentioned above was one of them, but her favorite seemed to be “Hush Little Baby”. We even had a beautifully illustrated book with the verses of the lullaby – so she could turn pages while I sang.

    Aaah, sweet memory that I haven’t thought of for ages. Thanks for that, baboons!

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  10. OT. It seems lonely here without the missing cabin baboons. Wonder what they’re up to this morning.

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  11. My mom would play one on the piano, “To a Wild Rose” (by Edward MacDowell), her own simplified version, to get us quieted down at bedtime:
    http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=to+a+wild+rose+edward+macdowell&mid=5F51C87047C29E9E89135F51C87047C29E9E8913&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1

    I remembered it well enough that I used it almost daily at rest time in the kindergarten room, when they would lay their little heads down on their tables for 15 minutes of blessed quiet and I would plunk out something hopefully soothing on the old upright.

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  12. Rise and Shine from the North Country Baboons!

    The group has assembled here in Cornucopia–Linda, Steve and I met at Steve’s house yesterday and travelled North. There we met Krista, finally found tim last night, wandered through the woods to Steve’s cabin, and enjoyed Riding the Wind at the Big Tent.

    Baboons, are as ever, wonderful companions.

    Meanwhile, every night for years my son and I sang “Tell Me Why” as a lullaby. This was inspired by an early Garrison Keillor show.

    Off to meet the Baboons. It’s raining here.

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  13. The cabin baboons are here! Jacque and I are holed up in the Village Inn. The water is running this morning (it wasn’t yesterday!) and the coffee is on.

    We went to Riding with the Wind last night – fantastic show. The music was thrilling with the history of Bayfield and Madeline Island in a slide show on a big screen behind the orchestra. The weather was warm and sunny yesterday, cool last night, and a thunderstorm just cleared the area a little while ago.

    Steve’s cabin is in a gorgeous place. Linda (SPWS) and I climbed down on the rocks and found a cave. We thought we heard something splash into the (warm) water. Steve said there are otters there! Steve, tim and Linda will be coming here in a little bit for breakfast. Have a fun day, baboons!

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    1. Jacque, how do you know that water is warm? Husband and I went in, and it was extremely cold (and I’m no sissy!). Thanks for the update. Sounds like a fun time.

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      1. I went wading yesterday, soaked my rolled-up jeans. It was very, very nice. I think the water is relatively shallow near the sandy beaches here and it warms right up.

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    2. I don’t know the name – think it’s traditional, perhaps Russian?

      Pacing, puzzling all the night long
      a young lad sang a haunting song
      What shall I say to my love today
      Oh, what shall I say to my love today

      Kum bala kum bala kum balalaika
      Kum bala kum bala kum balalaika
      Kum balalaika, play balalaika
      Kum balalaika, laugh and be gay

      Maiden, maiden, can you explain
      What can grow without snow or rain
      What can blaze but never die
      What can weep but never cry?

      Idle lad, you’re joking, I know
      A stone can grow without rain or snow
      Love can blaze but never die
      A heart can weep but never cry.

      Kum bala kum bala kum balalaika
      Kum bala kum bala kum balalaika
      Kum balalaika, play balalaika
      Kum balalaika, laugh and be gay

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      1. I know this, but from elementary music class (alas, a joy my son will never know), only I knew it as Tum balalaika, more of a dancing tune to it as I recall, but each verse was a sort of a riddle.

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      1. By the cabin or by the beach? We went in off the rocks below Steve’s cabin in a sweltering hot day, and it was positively frigid.

        Krista, I’m not familiar with your song. Would I know the melody do you think?

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  14. Hmm. It seems we have an ethical dilemma here. Do we wish all the cabin baboons our heartfelt wishes for a good time, or do we make them feel guilty for having a wonderful time while we worker baboons trudge through the weekend taking care of business and being responsible?

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    2. They should feel a little guilty, not too much, and we can feel a little sorry for ourselves if we want to. Is that okay?

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      2. My husband thinks the best solution for we who are left at home is to just go to work, but goof off while we are there.

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      1. you re my sunshine is the one i sang my kids to sleep with. edlewies was another. litte guitar and singing was good foe me too.

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      2. When I was taking care of the three Bridges’ children in Moscow in 1964, I used to sing “Itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini” to them. Don’t ask me why, but they loved it.

        About five years ago, I connected with the two older kids, David and Elizabeth (found their father on the internet). Elizabeth wrote and told me that one of her fondest memories from her childhood was me singing that silly song to her. She said that song still pops into her head every so often, and when it does, she’s grateful that she had a nanny who would sing to her. Made my day that she remembered, she was only five years old at the time.

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      3. Yes, I’ll just go scrub the toilets and get the place ready for out of town company (AGAIN), with no Lake Superior water and rocks to climb on, and forests to walk through… At least the company is Mario, step-son from California, and that’s always fun.

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    4. Well, my client meeting went fine and now I’m planning a big day at the Fair tomorrow with the teenager, so while I’m sorry to miss the fun, I guess I don’t think the cabin baboons need to feel guilty. After all, it’s not their fault my client moved his meeting!

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    5. I’m still just sitting here at my desk like I have been all day, looking out at the scenic parking lot (at least there is also a goodish patch of sky in the picture). Closest I will get to Up North today will be driving by the DNR on the way home, but you other Baboons, go ahead and enjoy yourselves and don’t give the rest of us another thought.

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  15. Oh, thanks for checking in, Cabin Babooners, at least we can get a flavor of what you’re doing.

    I was trying to remember what I/we sang to our son, and realized it was WITH our son. When living in big old Winona house we were heating with wood, so in winter we all pulled our beds into the “foyer” near the wood stove. This meant we all went to bed at the same time (around 10 – and Joel would then sleep in till 8 🙂 ), and upon Lights Out, we sang songs together, beginning with Aiken Drum. I remember Little Black Bull from a Pete Seeger album, and Burl Ives ones like Buckeye Jim and The Goat… It’s a fine memory.

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      1. In a way, but it’s kind of esoteric, as he’s my son who passed on almost 4 years ago now. I write here almost as if he’s still alive, which in some ways I believe he is. It is healing to tell other people stories about him.

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      3. Barbara, I’m sorry. Glad that you find it healing to share such memories. Losing a child has to be a loss that needs healing forever.

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      4. It’s part of why this blog is such a gift for me, that it’s a place I can tell Joel stories and people don’t seem to mind. He would have loved what a kick I get out of everyone on here, and you’re right, Clyde, he is one of us.

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  16. Morning Congress–

    Back from a quick trip to Chicago and our son is off on a great adventure. There were tears– and the gnashing of teeth was done during road construction and a missed turn. All’s well in the end.
    There was laughter too as I didn’t see the sign that said ‘Emergency Exit Only- Alarm Will Sound’ in son’s dorm and was immediately shunned by all the other dads standing in the hallway… They’ll get over it. So will the trauma it caused my son. Hah!

    I used to sing the Beatles ‘Blackbird’ to our daughter.

    Goof off at work? Us? Kelly and I both took today off so goofing off at home.
    Ah… it’s always nice to get home.

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    1. can’t help it, I am now playing ‘Blackbird’ with a banjo accompaniment in my head (’cause I sure as anything can’t do it with my fingers).

      Some dad had to go through that door, Ben- I’m sure they are all glad you ‘took one for the team’.

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    3. Nice going, Ben. Did they send firetrucks?

      I’m retired, so I goof off whenever I feel like it, and I don’t feel guilty about it either.

      My next goofing off project is trying to find a Thai soup recipe that utilizes all the wonderful ingredients, including lemon grass, Thai basil and corn, that I found at this morning’s Farmers’ Market.

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      1. I found this on Mouge SuperFoods site:

        Creamy Coconut Corn Soup with Thai Basil and Lemongrass
        Serves 8 – 10

        Stripped ears of fresh corn are used to make a delicate stock and the resulting fresh corn infusion combines beautifully with lemongrass, basil and coconut milk.

        Corn Lemongrass stock
        8 ears fresh corn
        8 cups water
        2 lemongrass stalks
        6 kefir lime leaves, fresh or frozen
        1 yellow onion
        1 garlic bulb
        1 teaspoon salt

        Soup
        1 tablespoon olive oil
        1 small yellow onion, diced
        1 cup minced shallots
        6 garlic cloves, minced
        1 lemongrass stalk, trimmed and minced
        4 tablespoons minced ginger
        6 kefir lime leaves
        2 teaspoons salt
        1 x 398 ml can coconut milk
        2 teaspoons sambal oelek
        1/4 cup chopped Thai basil
        ground white pepper, to taste
        juice of 1 lime

        Method
        To Make the Stock: Remove corn kernels from the cob and reserve (you will need about 4 cups). Roughly chop onion, lemongrass and garlic. Place cobs and stock ingredients in a stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. Strain and keep warm.
        To make the Soup: Heat oil in a soup pot over medium heat; add onion and sauté until translucent. Add shallots, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, lime leaves and 1 teaspoon salt. Gently sauté until golden and softened, adding a bit of stock to prevent sticking if necessary. Add the reserved corn kernels, remaining salt and stock to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the corn is tender. Remove the lime leaves. Using a hand blender or a food processor, puree the soup and return it to the pot along with the coconut milk, sambal and more stock. Simmer the soup for 15 minutes. Before serving, add basil leaves and season to taste with salt, white pepper and limejuice.

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      3. Hmmm, I may have to simplify that a bit and make something like it (I know it won’t be the same without the kefir lime leaves, but I can only put in so much effort and questing for ingredients was last weekend’s fun-this weekend it is State Fair on the one and only day we really can go and dealing with the buckets of grapes that got picked without me this afternoon).

        PJ, I’ve got lemon grass growing in my garden-I get a plant from the downtown SP Farmer’s Market every year and it just goes crazy. Makes me feel very exotic, dries nicely and provides lovely pots of tea-really good with a couple of slices of fresh ginger thrown in.

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      4. mig, is it a perennial? If I plant it now, will it winter here?

        That soup is scrumptious. I have some spare lime leaves that I just bought at Hmong Town fresh. I’ve stuck them in the freezer. I’m happy to share.

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      5. Lemon grass is only hardy in ZOnes 8-10, so unless you keep it indoors in a pot, you have to plant it every year. We have some in our garden, too.

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      6. Thanks Sherrilee – I was looking for something new this weekend. Gonna have to by a lemon grass plant next year, it seems.

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  17. Anyone know what’s the deal when this “An error occurred. Please try again later.” happens with the music links?

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  18. By-o, Baby bunting
    Daddy’s gone a-hunting
    to catch a little rabbit skin
    to wrap the baby bunting in.

    disturbing and what is a bunting? Wikipedia says it is a term of endearment. i didn’t know that until just now. all those years……… 🙂

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      1. Yes, I remember something my baby sister had that was almost a baby sleeping bag – a blanket sewn at the bottom and it had little ties or a zipper up the middle.

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      1. love indigo buntings! bet you folks up at Steve’s cabin are seeing some – we have them here also – in the thick underbrush but i’ve seen them in treetops also.
        thanks, PJ.
        fyi – Steve updated his blog yesterday with fair report, summer pics.

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      2. biB, which blog. I looked at yesterday’s and the day’s before, and didn’t see it? Does Steve have a blog that I’m not aware of??

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      3. Blackhoof Steve, not St. Paul (and cabin) Steve…confusing, no? If you click on Barb in Blackhoof’s name, it links to the blog about her goats and farm. And apparently kittens…

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      5. biB, loved the photos and the narrative. Looks like a great summer. I especially enjoyed the photos of the kitties. Tried to leave a comment, but it go complicated, so I quit.

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  19. Oh my goodness, how have I missed this blog for over a year? I have been desparately lonely for the Trial Balloon and the Morning Show ever since it went off the air and off of my computer. Today, I felt sad because I wasn’t at the State Fair at Insane ‘o clock in the morning to witness the Morning Show Live. In my renewed grief I Googled Dale and found the Trail Baboon. What joy! What rapture! Not only wonderful conversation, but music as well! It can’t replace the Morning Show or Radio Heartland, but it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!

    My grandmother used to sing a Danish Lullabye to me called “The Little Ole.” (I can’t find a recording of it online, it must be pretty obscure). From the Beatle’s Abbey Road album, “Golden Slumbers” makes me absolutely swoon.

    How are the goats?

    Darcy

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    1. Welcome, Darcy. So glad you’ve found us. This is really a great blog with a lot of friendly folks.

      Here’s a link to a youtube version of “Den lille Ole med paraplyen.”

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  20. Oh, thank you, Plain Jane! I didn’t think to look it up in Danish! That made me very happy! I am going to post that on Facebook so all my American Danish Relatives can hear it!

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  21. Ooh, I remembered more lullabies I love – Carly Simon and her sisters did an album originally called The Lobster Quadrille in early 70s (I found it last year on Amazon as Carly & Lucy Simon Sing Songs for Children, ), with a good rendition of “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod” and also a hauntingly beautiful “Sleep, Baby, Sleep”.

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  22. Darcy and PJ – In case BiB doesn’t get back on today, go to upper right corner at top of our blog, under BlogRoll, and click on “Out to Pasture” for a link to Barb & Steve’s most recent goat news and photos. 🙂

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  23. I used to sing Tender Shepherd from Peter Pan (the Mary Martin version) as a round with my son. It wasn’t very restful because of my lack of musicality and an on-going argument between the 2 of us. The words include this patter “Tender shepherd. Tender shepherd. Let me help you count your sheep. One in the garden, two in the meadow, three in the nursery fast asleep” Were there 3 sheep altogether or 7? Feuding minds want to know.

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    1. Beth-Ann, O.K. I’ll bite. I could go with 3 or 6, but how do you get 7? I must be missing something!

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  26. I Need a Traveler’s Lullaby:

    Menu tonight at Steve’s Cabin:

    Krista’s vegetarian Chili
    tim’s marinated vegetables
    Linda STWS’s Artichokes
    Jacque’s Capresi Salad (Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes)
    Fresh Peach Pie

    It was a FEAST worthy of Baboons

    Krista has a beautiful singing voice and lulled Steve to sleep. tim, who we nominated for Renaissance Man, also plays guitar beautiful and sang a lovely harmony to Krista’s music. It all made me feel like a college kid again.

    Nice job with the jealousy ethics discussion Baboons!

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