Shepherds’ Cradle Song

Lyrics

O sleep, thou heaven-born treasure, thou Sleep sound, thou dearest child White angel wings shall fan thy brow With breezes soft and mild We shepherds poor are here to sing A simple lullaby to our King Lullaby, lullaby Sleep, sleep softly, lullaby See Mary has with mother's love A bed for thee outspread While Joseph stoops him from above And watches at thy head The lambkins in the stall so nigh That thou may sleep Have hushed their cry And when thou'rt big and art a man Full woe's in store for thee; For cruel men thy death will plan And hang thee on a tree So sleep, my baby, whilst thou may 'Twill give thee rest against that day