Buzz
A mother singing a lullaby to her child is often seen as the ultimate symbol of love and comfort. Yet, when you pay attention to the words, many lullabies reveal a surprisingly dark side. Take, for instance, the classic Rockabye Baby, which concludes with a baby falling from a broken branch. Below are 12 unsettling lullabies from various cultures that might just disturb your sleep.
1. "Nana Nenê" // Brazil
This Brazilian lullaby introduces children to Cuca, a mythical crocodile-witch, and warns of absent parents, an ox-like monster, and a rooftop-dwelling bogeyman named Bicho Papão. Perfect ingredients for a peaceful night's sleep, right?
Hush little baby Cuca is on her way to find you, Papa is out in the fields, mama is at work. Dark-faced ox, Come and take this child Who fears strange faces. Bogeyman Leave the roof Let this child rest in peace.
Listen here.
2. "Duérmete Niño" // Spanish
This lullaby, popular in Spain and Latin America, comes in many variations. It cautions that if you don’t fall asleep, a shapeshifting creature known as the Coco will devour you. In some regions, the Coco is replaced by el Lobo (the wolf), which is equally terrifying.
Sleep, little one Go to sleep now Or the Coco will come and carry you off. Sleep, little one Go to sleep now Or the Coco will come and devour you.
Listen here.
3. "Dodo Titit" // Haiti
In Haiti, children are warned that a crab will come for them if they don’t sleep while their parents are gone.
Sleep now, little one, Sleep now, little one, If you stay awake, the crab will feast on you If you stay awake, the crab will feast on you. Your mother is away, she’s at the market, Your father is away, he’s by the river, If you stay awake, the crab will feast on you If you stay awake, the crab will feast on you.
Listen here.
4. "Bayu Bayushki Bayu" // Russia
In Russia, children are cautioned that a wolf will snatch them from the edge of their bed and carry them deep into the forest.
Sleep, sleep, sleep Don’t lie near the bed’s edge Or the little grey wolf will come And seize you by your side, Drag you into the woods Beneath the willow’s roots.
Listen here.
More Articles About Nursery Rhymes:
5. "Ninna Nanna" // Italy
In Italy, children are told that the old hag, the bogeyman, and the white wolf will take them—not by force, but because their mother will willingly hand them over.
Ninna nanna, ninna oh Who should I give this baby to? If I give it to the old hag, She’ll keep it for a week. If I give it to the bogeyman, He’ll keep it for a whole year. If I give it to the white wolf, He’ll keep it for a very long time. Lullaby, sleep fairies, Help my baby fall asleep.
Listen here.
6. "Lelo Ledung" // Javanese
On Java, an Indonesian island, a terrifying giant searches for children who cry. Additionally, crying is said to ruin your beauty.
Please hush, don’t keep crying My child with a beautiful face If you cry, your beauty will fade. I pray you live with honor Become a woman of great importance Bring pride to your parents’ name Be a defender of your nation…. Please hush…my child… Look… The moon is full, Like the head of a fearsome giant Searching for a crying child. Tak lelo…lelo…lelo ledung… Please hush, my lovely child I carry you in a "kawung" batik sling If you keep crying, you’ll make me anxious.
Translation from mamalisa.com; listen here.
7. and 8. "Bíum, bíum, Bambaló" and "Sofðu nú svínið þitt" // Iceland
Iceland is home to perhaps the most terrifying creature of all—one so mysterious that you can’t even identify it. All you know is that it’s out there, lurking, lurking…
Beeum, beeum, bambalow, Bambalow and dillidillidow. I gently rock my little friend to sleep. But outside, A shadowy face peers through the window.
Listen to the Sigur Rós version with lyrics and translation here.
There’s also this Icelandic classic, though I haven’t been able to track down its melody:
Sofðu nú svínið þitt, svartur í augum. Farðu í fúlan pytt, fullan af draugum
Which translates to
Sleep, you black-eyed pig. Fall into a pit filled with ghosts.
9. "Highland Fairy Lullaby" // Scotland
In Scotland, there are no terrifying creatures to snatch you away. Instead, your mother might simply leave you behind and lose you.
I left my baby lying there, lying there, lying there I left my baby lying there To go and pick blaeberries. Ho-van, ho-van gorry o go, Gorry o go, gorry o go; Ho-van, ho-van gorry o go, I’ve lost my precious baby-o I saw the little yellow fawn But never found my baby. I followed the otter on the lake But couldn’t find my baby. Ho-van, ho-van gorry o go, Gorry o go, gorry o go; Ho-van, ho-van gorry o go, I never found my baby-o
Listen here.
10. "Lima Anak Ayam" // Malaysia
In this medley of lullabies by Malaysian singer Zee Avi, the third song, beginning at 1:10, takes a dark turn with baby chicks meeting their demise.
Five chicks One chick dies One chick gone leaves four
11. "Kråkevisa" // Norway
This Norwegian lullaby ballad doesn’t focus on a child’s sleep or their fate but tells the tale of a man who fears a crow will kill him, so he kills it first. What follows is a gruesome list of how he uses every part of the crow’s body.
… then he skinned the Crow and cut her into pieces she weighed nearly sixteen to twenty pounds from the pelt, he crafted twelve pairs of shoes he gave the finest pair to his Mother he salted the meat in vessels and barrels and saved the tongue for the Yule feast from the entrails, he made twelve ropes and turned the claws into dirt-forks he fashioned the beak into a church-boat for people to sail back and forth he used the mouth to grind grain and shaped the ears into trumpets from the eyes, he made glass for the hall and placed the neck on the church as decoration
The song’s moral is clear: “Anyone who cannot make such use of a crow is unworthy of having one.” Listen here.
12. "Incili Bebek Ninnisi" // Turkey
This Turkish lullaby stems from a story about a man who, after wishing for a child, vowed to sacrifice three camels if his wish came true. However, on the way to the sacrifice, he decided to keep the camels. The lullaby, sung by the mother, recounts what happened next.
Black eagles circle above, Suddenly diving down, To snatch my little one away, Sleep, my baby, sleep. Black eagles soar high, A pearl crown left behind, Your foolish father snores on. Sleep, my baby, sleep. Black eagles glide through the sky, Clutching my precious child, While the world watches silently. Sleep, my baby, sleep. Black birds rise in the air, Tearing my baby’s flesh, As the world looks on in horror. Sleep, my baby, sleep.
Full lullaby text and story here.
Sweet dreams!
