My Song “Tanushree’s Lullaby”
My Music“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.”
Tanushree’s Lullaby
I can’t really say where I got the idea of writing a lullaby – one evening, sitting at home minding my own business, the words started forming and along with them came a simple melody.
A few weeks later, I took the rudimentary song with me to India, along with a few other scraps I was working on. With my laptop set up in my room, and more relaxed time to spare, I was able to tidy up the loose ends at leisure.
During my visit, I met Tanushree, the 9-month old granddaughter of my spiritual teacher, Shri Balaji. With her big almond eyes and ready smile, she stole my heart and I decided to dedicate the lullaby to her. But I needed a verse with her name in it, of course. Tanushree’s grandmother, Smt. Veena had told me that her little granddaughter woke up every morning with bright eyes and a big smile so, with that in mind, and her impish grin in front of my inner eye, I went to sit at Mana Mandir, one of my favourite spots in the Ashram. It was early evening, just before sundown, the world slowly winding down, getting ready for the approaching night – just the right atmosphere to sing a child to sleep. Tanushree’s verse came very easily and I think it just fits her to a “T”.
In this world, seemingly gone mad, I also dedicate this song to all children in the hope that tomorrow will be a brighter day for them, that the monsters will really all be “gone away” and that precious love will enfold them all.
Sweet dreams, all you little ones out there.
Close your eyes my pretty one
The sun has gone to bed
And our day’s work is done
The Milky Way’s a path of light
To guide you safely through the night
And guardian angels bring you home
My pretty one
Rest in sleep my little child
The Sandman’s scattered dust
And your sleepy eyes beguiled
The moon above’s a sailing boat
That keeps all your sweet dreams afloat
And twinkling stars will make you smile
My little child, my little child
Sleep tight my angel dear
Your mama’s stayin’ close
To keep you safe from fear
The monsters all have gone away
We’ll fight them off another day
And precious love enfolds you here
My angel dear, my angel dear
Safely dream, Tanushree sweet
You’ll waken up tomorrow
With a new world at your feet
With shining eyes you’ll greet the day
Your smile will take our cares away
Your laughter make our hearts complete
Tanushree sweet
Close your eyes my pretty one
The sun has gone to bed
And our day’s work is done
The Milky Way’s a path of light
To guide you safely through the night
And guardian angels bring you home
My pretty one
Guitar: Ecco Meineke
Piano: Christian Doepke
Bass & Mix: Edi Schorer
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“Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven.”