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Bedtime is a nice moment to listen to quiet music together with your children. These three songs are not conventional lullabies, but each is, in its own way, about our dreams.
Listening Tips
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
When you hear the music, how do you picture the chariot ride – Fast or slow? Up or down?
Laila Tov (Good Night)
This song describes nature at night, with the moon’s yellow light and the sound of crickets. What are your nighttime sounds and scenes?
Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold)
A mandolin and a clarinet each makes a special sound. What feelings for Jerusalem does each express in this song?
Song Lyrics
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Performed by Ofelia Marsh – Traditional spiritual
This is an instrumental version for solo piano. Lyrics of chorus and first verse are:
Swing low, sweet chariot
Coming for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan and what did I see
Coming for to carry me home
A band of angels coming after me
Coming for to carry me home
Laila Tov (Good Night)
Performed by Yehudit Ravitz and Yoni Rechter – Music: Yoni Rechter – Lyrics: Yehonatan Geffen
Tov (Good)
Leil menucha vechalom (A night of rest and dream)
Kvar me’uchar umachar nakum venir’eh (It’s late, and tomorrow we’ll wake and see)
Eich shemagi’a hayom besof kol laila (How the day comes after each night)
Tov (Good)
Choshech nafal al harechov (Darkness has fallen on the street)
Rak hayare’ach mash’ir et oro hatzahov (Only the moon leaves its yellow glow)
Tzartzar metzartzer tzirtzuro shar (A cricket chirps its chirping, singing:)
Laila tov (“Good night”)
Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold)
Performed by David Grisman and Andy Statman – Music and lyrics: Naomi Shemer
This is an instrumental version for mandolin and clarinet. Lyrics of first verse and chorus are:
Avir harim tzalul kayayin (The mountain air is clear as wine)
Verei’ach oranim (And the scent of pines)
Nisa beru’ach ha’arbayim (Is carried on the breeze at twilight)
Im kol pa’amonim (Along with the sound of bells)
Uvetardeimat ilan va’even (And in the slumber of tree and stone)
Shvuya bachaloma (Caught in her dream)
Ha’ir asher badad yoshevet (The city sits solitary)
Uveliba choma (And at its heart a wall)
Yerushalayim shel zahav (Jerusalem of gold)
Veshel nechoshet veshel or (Of copper and light)
Halo lechol shirayich ani kinor (I am a violin for all your songs)
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