Commentary

During my first 66 years I listened to, played, and sang many songs.  But the total number I wrote was two.  I didn’t know I could do it. 

Then in January of 2012, on a whim, Linda and I signed up for 5-day workshops at Esalen, she for drawing, I for songwriting with Cris Williamson.  I produced four or five songs during those days, and original songs have continued arriving since.  (Thank you, Cris!) This song is scarcely changed since January 2012.  “As the World Turns Tonight” was a lullaby Cris then had in process, and she had us her students working up verses as an exercise.  With this turning world thought in mind, watching the sun sink into the Pacific on successive nights got me thinking about where the sun goes and what night and bedtime mean to a child and his parent.

The opening melody suggested itself to me as I was playing, from a book, chord sequences from Stevie Wonder’s song, “As.”  Puppies and horses, owls and bullfrogs are the stuff and sounds of bedtimes on our foothills ranch.  “Go to sleep” wasn’t a difficult lullaby concept or lyric.  We used to have a beach house on Oahu, and, once I had devised a rhyme for “Honolulu” it was fun to find rhymes for a series of other places the sun would be brightening on its westward journey, all while night was settling in on a tired American child and parent.  

Go to sleep my darling, as the world turns tonight,
Somewhere daytime through the darkness
You bring me delight.

My darlings who, “through the darkness” remind me it is “somewhere daytime” and “bring me delight,” are, of course, my children, Steve and Lisa.  Linda too.

The CD’s title and cover art come from this very lullaby.  A favorite painting we own is Mike Smith’s, “Horse That Sends Dreams,” which inspired a lyric and is used on the CD jacket with the artist’s permission. I also love Linda’s realization of the “Somewhere Daytime” and “Cocoa Skies” images, watercolors she created for this project.

The excitement of a geography lesson with Dad, and the major chords accompanying the sun’s daytime exploits contrast the calm night sleepy themes, but that is typical at a child’s bedtime.  Mutual exhaustion and, if not overused, the snoring daddy routine, are a proven way resolve this sort of tension.   This song’s title was going to be “Go to Sleep Like a Puppy,” but my Esalen classmates set me straight.  “Go to Sleep Like a Daddy,” it is.

Listen

Lyrics

Go to sleep like a puppy. You have barked and played all day.
Rest your head on the pillow . Let nighttime have its way.

While night owls hoot outside and bullfrogs yawn to you,
Our sun sparkles surf and the sands of Honolulu

Go to sleep like the garden. Gently close your eyes
Like the petals of the flower. You are beautiful and wise.

While marshmallows overhead float in warm coco-a
Mr. Sun parts clouds for the people of Samoa.

Go to sleep like the horses on their shavings after hay.
They have cantered into evening and they send dreams your way.

While the moon at your window crosses our night sky
The sun beams for millions overhead in Mumbai.

Go to sleep like a puppy. Go to sleep like the flowers.
While the horses graze dreaming are the perfect sleeping hours.

And as the sheep you've counted contemplate their wool
The sun shines on playgrounds for kids In Istanbul.

Go to sleep my darling, while the world turns to-night
Somewhere daytime, through the darkness, you bring me de-light.

While angels on high dance in starry gowns
Mr. Sun rides upper deck over London town.

Go to sleep like a daddy ‘til the sun's here once more.
Go to sleep like a daddy. Pardon me while I snore.