BRITTEN: A Charm of Lullabies: 1. A Cradle Song

COMPOSER: Benjamin Britten
Alice Coote, mezzo-soprano
Graham Johnson, piano
2007 BBC Proms, First Night (July 16, 2007)
** TEXT: William Blake, "A Cradle Song," c1793, possibly intended for SONGS OF INNOCENCE **
Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,
Dreaming o'er the joys of night;
Sleep, sleep, in thy sleep
Little sorrows sit and weep.
Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles.
O! the cunning wiles that creep
In thy little heart asleep.
When thy little heart does wake
Then the dreadful lightnings break,
From thy cheek and from thy eye,
O'er the youthful harvests nigh.
Infant wiles and infant smiles
Heaven and Earth of peace beguiles.

[@Warblerization]

Utterly beautiful - both voice and piano. Thankyou so much.