The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.
The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.
Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.
Lullabye
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you′ve been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
I never will be far away
Goodnight, my angel
Now it′s time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
WHen we went sailing on an emerald bay
ANd like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
THe water's dark
And deep inside this ancient heart
You′ll always be a part of me
Goodnight, my angel
Now it′s time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me
Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on...
They never die
That′s how you
And I
Will be
The song "Lullabye" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a touching and comforting lullaby that speaks about the love and bond between a parent and a child, especially as they prepare to sleep. The opening lines of the song, "Goodnight, my angel, time to close your eyes," show the loving and nurturing tone that the song will take throughout. The parent in the song assures the child that they will always be there for them and that they should not worry about anything. The lines "And save these questions for another day, I think I know what you've been asking me, I think you know what I've been trying to say" can be interpreted as the child having worries or questions, and the parent being able to sense and understand what they are without needing to verbalize them.
The song continues with the parent reminiscing about the times they spent together, such as when the child would sing songs while they were sailing. The metaphor "Like a boat out on the ocean, I'm rocking you to sleep" serves to remind the child of the safety and security they feel when they are with their parent. The imagery of the "water's dark and deep inside this ancient heart" may represent the unknown and sometimes scary aspects of life that the child may encounter. However, the parent promises to always be there for them and that they will always have a part of them in their heart. Lastly, the song ends on a reflective note, with the parent admitting that one day they will no longer be there, but the lullaby will continue to live on, and that they will always be connected through it.
Overall, the song is a touching and comforting lullaby that speaks to the deep emotional bond between a parent and a child. It conveys the message that the love and connection between them will always be present, even in moments of separation, and that they can find comfort in that knowing that they will always have a part of each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight, my angel
It's time to go to sleep, my dear one
Time to close your eyes
Shut your eyes, go to dreamland
And save these questions for another day
Don't ponder too much tonight, think about it another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I believe I understand what you're curious about
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I believe you comprehend what I'm trying to express
I promised I would never leave you
I vow to always be with you
And you should always know
You should never forget
Wherever you may go
No matter where you go
No matter where you are
Wherever you may be
I never will be far away
I'll always be near you
Goodnight, my angel
Sleep well, my little one
Now it's time to sleep
It's time to rest your body and mind
And still so many things I want to say
Although there's much more I could tell you
Remember all the songs you sang for me
Recall all of the tunes you sang to me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
When we voyaged on the sea
And like a boat out on the ocean
Just like a vessel on the deep sea
I'm rocking you to sleep
I'm swaying you off to slumber
The water's dark
The water's shadowy
And deep inside this ancient heart
In my old heart, deep within
You'll always be a part of me
You'll forever be within me
Goodnight, my angel
Sleep well, dear one
Now it's time to dream
It's time to envision
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Dream about your bright future
Someday your child may cry
At some point, your offspring may weep
And if you sing this lullabye
But if you hum this sleeping song
Then in your heart
Then inside of you
There will always be a part of me
There will always be a fragment of me
Someday we'll all be gone
One day, we'll all pass away
But lullabyes go on and on...
Yet, lullabies never truly cease
They never die
They never completely vanish
That's how you and I will be
That's how you and I will abide
Writer(s): Billy Joel
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rutharnell
The stars are twinkling in the skies,
The earth is lost in slumbers deep;
So hush, my sweet, and close thine eyes,
And let me lull thy soul to sleep.
Compose thy dimpled hands to rest,
And like a little birdling lie
Secure within thy cozy nest
Upon my loving mother breast,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, hushaby,
Hush my sweet and close thine eyes,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, O hushaby.
The moon is singing to a star
The little song I sing to you;
The father sun has strayed afar,
As baby’s sire is straying too.
And so the loving mother moon
Sings to the little star on high;
And as she sings, her gentle tune
Is borne to me, and thus I croon
For thee, my sweet, that lullaby
Of hushaby, hushaby,
Hush my sweet and close thine eyes,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, O hushaby.
There is a little one asleep
That does not hear his mother’s song;
But angel watchers—as I weep—
Surround his grave the night-tide long.
And as I sing, my sweet, to you,
Oh, would the lullaby I sing—
The same sweet lullaby he knew
While slumb’ring on this bosom too—
Were borne to him on angel’s wing!
So hushaby, hushaby,
Lullaby, Lullaby, Lullaby,
So hushaby, So hushaby,
Lullaby, Hushaby.
@lynaefrates1670
The stars are twinkling in the skies,
The earth is lost in slumbers deep;
So hush, my sweet, and close thine eyes,
And let me lull thy soul to sleep.
Compose thy dimpled hands to rest,
And like a little birdling lie
Secure within thy cozy nest
Upon my loving mother breast,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby--O hushaby.
The moon is singing to a star
The little song I sing to you;
The father sun has strayed afar,
As baby's sire is straying too.
And so the loving mother moon
Sings to the little star on high;
And as she sings, her gentle tune
Is borne to me, and thus I croon
For thee, my sweet, that lullaby
Of hushaby--O hushaby.
There is a little one asleep
That does not hear his mother's song;
But angel watchers-
as I weep-Surround his grave the night-tide long.
And as I sing, my sweet, to you,
Oh, would the lullaby I sing--
The same sweet lullaby he knew
While slumb'ring on this bosom too--
Were borne to him on angel's wing!
So hushaby--O hushaby.
Eugene Field
@katiescarlett71
I noticed the closed caption option is not available. Here are the lyrics: The song lyrics are from the poem "A Lullaby" by Eugene Field.
The stars are twinkling in the skies,
The earth is lost in slumbers deep;
So hush, my sweet, and close thine eyes,
And let me lull thy soul to sleep.
Compose thy dimpled hands to rest,
And like a little birdling lie
Secure within thy cozy nest
Upon my loving mother breast,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, hushaby,
Hush my sweet and close thine eyes,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, O hushaby,
The moon is singing to a star
The little song I sing to you;
The father sun has strayed afar,
As baby's sire is straying too.
And so the loving mother moon
Sings to the little star on high;
And as she sings, her gentle tune
Is borne to me, and thus I croon
For thee, my sweet, that lullaby
Of hushaby, hushaby,
Hush my sweet and close thine eyes,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, O hushaby,
There is a little one asleep
That does not hear his mother's song;
But angel watchers-
as I weep-Surround his grave the night-tide long.
And as I sing, my sweet, to you,
Oh, would the lullaby I sing--
The same sweet lullaby he knew
While slumb'ring on this bosom too--
Were borne to him on angel's wing!
So hushaby, hushaby,
Lullaby, Lullaby, Lullaby
So hushaby, So hushaby,
Lullaby, Hushaby, Lullaby
@lynaefrates1670
The stars are twinkling in the skies,
The earth is lost in slumbers deep;
So hush, my sweet, and close thine eyes,
And let me lull thy soul to sleep.
Compose thy dimpled hands to rest,
And like a little birdling lie
Secure within thy cozy nest
Upon my loving mother breast,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby--O hushaby.
The moon is singing to a star
The little song I sing to you;
The father sun has strayed afar,
As baby's sire is straying too.
And so the loving mother moon
Sings to the little star on high;
And as she sings, her gentle tune
Is borne to me, and thus I croon
For thee, my sweet, that lullaby
Of hushaby--O hushaby.
There is a little one asleep
That does not hear his mother's song;
But angel watchers-
as I weep-Surround his grave the night-tide long.
And as I sing, my sweet, to you,
Oh, would the lullaby I sing--
The same sweet lullaby he knew
While slumb'ring on this bosom too--
Were borne to him on angel's wing!
So hushaby--O hushaby.
Eugene Field
@markw1706
The stars are twinkling in the skies, the earth is lost in slumber deep;
So hush, my sweet, and close thine eyes, And let me lull thy soul to sleep.
Compose thy dimpled hands to rest, And like a little birdling lie
Secure within thy cozy nest, Upon my loving mother breast,
And slumber to my lullaby, Do hush a by hush a by,
Hush my sweet and close thine eyes, And slumber to my lullaby
So hush-a by, O hush-a-b-y
The moon is singing to a star, The little song I sing to you,
The father sun has strayed a far, As baby’s sire is straying too,
And so the loving mother moon, Sings to the little star on high;
And as she sings, her gentle tun, Is borne to me, and thus I croon.
For thee, my sweet, that lullaby
Of husg-a-by, hush-a-by. Hush my sweet and close thine eyes,
and slumber to my lullaby. So hush-a-by. O hush-a-by.
There is a little one asleep, that does not hear his mother’s song;
But angel watchers as I weep surround his grave the night-tide long.
And as I sing, my sweet, to you, Oh would the lullaby I sing,
The same sweet lullaby he knew, While slumbring on this bosom too,
Were borne to him on angel’s wing!
So hush-a by hush-a-by, Lullaby, Lullaby Lullaby
So hush-aby So hush-a by, Lullaby, Hush-a-by, Lullaby
@malinateyou
The stars are twinkling in the skies, the earth is lost in slumbers deep;
So hush, my sweet, and close thine eyes, And let me lull thy soul to sleep.
Compose thy dimpled hands to rest, And like a little birdling lie
Secure within thy cozy nest Upon my loving mother breast,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, hushaby, Hush my sweet and close thine eyes,
And slumber to my lullaby,
So hushaby, O hushaby.
The moon is singing to a star The little song I sing to you,
The father sun has strayed afar, As baby’s sire is straying too.
And so the loving mother moon Sings to the little star on high;
And as she sings, her gentle tune Is borne to me, and thus I croon
For thee, my sweet, that lullaby.
Of hushaby, hushaby, Hush my sweet and close thine eyes.
And slumber to my lullaby, So hushaby, O hushaby.
There is a little one asleep That does not hear his mother’s song;
But angel watchers – as I weep – surround his grave the night-tide long.
And as I sing, my sweet, to you, Oh, would the lullaby…
Lullaby, Lullaby, hushaby, hushaby, lullaby…
@efaambros9102
Uma canção de ninar
por Eugene Field
As estrelas estão brilhando nos céus,
A terra está perdida em sono profundo;
Então, cale-se, minha doce, e feche seus olhos,
E deixe-me embalar sua alma para dormir.
Prepare suas mãos com covinhas para descansar,
E como um passarinho deite-se
Seguro dentro de seu ninho aconchegante
Sobre o seio de minha mãe amorosa,
E adormeça com minha canção de ninar,
Então hushaby-O hushaby.
A lua está cantando para uma estrela
A pequena canção que eu canto para você;
O pai sol se afastou,
Como o pai do bebê está se afastando também.
E assim a amorosa mãe lua
Canta para a estrelinha no alto;
E enquanto ela canta, sua suave melodia
é trazida para mim, e assim eu canto
Para ti, minha doce, aquela canção de ninar
De hushaby – O hushaby.
Há um pequenino dormindo
Que não ouve a canção de sua mãe;
Mas anjos vigilantes - enquanto eu choro -
Cercam seu túmulo durante toda a noite.
E enquanto eu canto, minha querida, para você,
Oh, a canção de ninar que eu canto -
A mesma doce canção de ninar que ele conheceu
Enquanto dormia neste peito também -
Foi levada a ele na asa de um anjo!
Então hushaby--O hushaby.
@donwasley2575
For 167 years little Clara A Dulaney's grave has been alone in an area outside of Central City, Colorado in an area once called Missouri Flats. She passed away at 1 year and 5 months and 12 days. Mining life was hard on families especially the children. I've known about her grave for years. Hearing this lullaby a few months ago reminded me of her "sleeping" in the dark and cold alone and it brought tears to my eyes. Now I'm in the process of arranging with Central City to volunteer to take care of her little grave that has been neglected for so many years! Thank you, Bro. Murphy for this lullaby of love! ❤😢 I hope this inspires other people to volunteer to take care of other resting places of the pioneers who built Central City, Colorado especially the little ones! ❤❤❤❤
@AnnieThornPinkerton
I am autistic and that song helps me getting quiet and calm down. I hear it at the evening.
@theelisan30
I'm moved to tears. Thank you for this❤
@keyplayer123
I notice at least one singer who stays silent for a line or two of this profound text. As we go through life we find, more often than we ever expected, those who have lost children. Thank you for bringing this touching reflection.
@mattrees1760
This a song is so gentle and sweet. A BEAUTIFUL song! Thank you Murphy, choir, and orchestra.
@sandracongdon4082
Congrats Brother Murphy. I know your mother and I know how very proud of your talents and how you use them to bring happiness to others she is. Another masterpiece!
@chischilisnez7811
Stunningly beautiful. Ryan Murphy, Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra, you ALL rock!
@SpecOpsDoctor
I just went to heaven…
This is perfect.
@hopemurray8572
I love looking at the world and listening to the song makes me cry with happiness
@beverlyvanfosson8259
That is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard. Calming and Peaceful