Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in Harlem, NYC, on 1 Ma… Read Full Bio ↴Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. in Harlem, NYC, on 1 March 1927; died 25 April 2023) was an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Caribbean-American pop star, he popularized Jamaican mento folk songs which was marketed as Trinbagonian Calypso musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso, released in 1956, was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.

Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he was an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.

Belafonte won three Grammy Awards (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. In 1989, he received the Kennedy Center Honors. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994. In 2014, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category and was the oldest living person to have received the honor.

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Small One
Harry Belafonte Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Time for sleep, time to go to bed
The sun is lying down upon
A deep cloud of red
Shut your drowsy eyes and count the sheep
Sleepy head one star is shyly peeping
Goodnight it's time for sleeping

Sleep my little one

Dream your dreams in my arms safely curled
Dream of joy and of laughter and fun
Small one it's such a big world

May your heart never ache

Big world don't make his heart break
Sleep little one and dream

Overall Meaning

The song "Small One" by Harry Belafonte is a gentle lullaby that conveys a message of protection, comfort, and love. The lyrics evoke a sense of calmness and security as the singer encourages a child to go to sleep. The sun setting in a "deep cloud of red" signals the end of the day and the time for rest. The invitation to "shut your drowsy eyes and count the sheep" suggests a soothing and peaceful transition into sleep.

The lyrics also highlight the vulnerability of the child in a big world. The singer wishes that the child's heart never aches and asks the world not to break their innocence and happiness. The phrase "Dream of joy and of laughter and fun" implies a desire for the child to experience a life filled with happiness and excitement, despite the sometimes challenging nature of the world.

Overall, the song "Small One" presents a tender expression of love and protection. It conveys a parent or caregiver's wish for the child to find peace in their dreams and navigate the world with a sense of wonder and optimism.

Line by Line Meaning

Time for sleep, time to go to bed
It is now the designated time for rest, the moment to prepare for sleep

The sun is lying down upon
The sun is descending, settling upon

A deep cloud of red
A vibrant cloud filled with hues of red

Shut your drowsy eyes and count the sheep
Close your tired eyes and engage in the act of counting imaginary sheep

Sleepy head one star is shyly peeping
Oh sleepy one, a single star timidly reveals itself

Goodnight it's time for sleeping
Wishing you a goodnight, as it is the appropriate moment for slumber

Sleep my little one
Fall asleep, my beloved child

Dream your dreams in my arms safely curled
Allow your dreams to unfold, nestled safely within my embrace

Dream of joy and of laughter and fun
May your dreams be filled with happiness, laughter, and enjoyment

Small one it's such a big world
Little one, the world is vast and expansive

May your heart never ache
May your heart never experience pain or sorrow