How soft are the shadows, the evening is nigh. I come to watch oér thee, my sweet holy child, the small doves are watching from rafterson high, and coo for thy slumber a soft lullaby.

by Audrfey Johnson
(Toronto,Ontario, Canada)

I'm 65 years old. I learned this in primary (elementary school) in the Caribbean. Unfortunately the old school house burnt down after the Head's death and all those lovely old English/Scottish/Irish music he passed down to us are lost. He was Scottish..
This is an old English lullaby:

how soft are the shadows,
The evening is nigh,
I come to watch oér Thee,
My sweet Holy Child.
The small doves are watching from rafters on high,
And coo for Thy slumber, a soft lullaby.

It's a beautiful lullaby and I can't find anyone who's ever heard of it. Help!!!!!

Comments for How soft are the shadows, the evening is nigh. I come to watch oér thee, my sweet holy child, the small doves are watching from rafterson high, and coo for thy slumber a soft lullaby.

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Aug 29, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Title NEW
by: Millie Smith

It sounds as if a few of us learned this song in Cincinnati. One even mentioned Oakley Elementary School, which is where I learned it. Does anyone know what it might be titled as? Maybe just "How soft are the shadows?"
Aug 25, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Christmas lullaby I sang in Catholic school NEW
by: Anonymous

How soft are the shadows the evening is nigh.

I come to watch or thee my sweet holy child. A song I shall sing thee, a sweet lullaby, for thou are not sleeping my sweet holy child. Lullaby, lullaby, how gentle thy cry.
Apr 18, 2021
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starstarstarstarstar 		To anonymous NEW
by: Anonymous

I learned this song in grade school in Oakley, Cincinnati, OH. Maybe we were at the same school?
Jan 18, 2021
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starstarstarstarstar 		Different lyrics in my memory
by: Anonymous

We sang this in elementary music class in Cincinnati, OH. The lyrics I remember are:

How soft are the shadows, the evening is nigh. I come to watch oer thee, my sweet holy child. A song I shall sing thee, a soft lullaby. For thou are not sleeping; how gentle thy cry. Lullaby; how gentle thy cry.

I have remembered and sung this song all these years, and I am now 70 years old! So glad to see that others are loving this tune with me!
Apr 27, 2020
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starstarstarstarstar 		I'm no help NEW
by: Ken D

I can also remember the first verse from this church lullaby but that is all. Our church choir sang it every year at Christmas in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the late 1950s.
Dec 18, 2017
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starstarstarstarstar 		Soft Lullaby NEW
by: Anonymous

I sang this in church choir. My solo was this: My Dear One, my Loved One, thy sweet eyelids close. No shadow shall darken, thy dreamless repose. An echo of music drifts down from the sky. The angels in heaven sing a soft lullaby. Ooooo, Ooooo, a soft lullaby.
Dec 19, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		I heard this song!
by: Anonymous

I heard of it! In fact I'm searching for it as we speak because I sang it and either 4th or 5th grade in chorus. It is always been one of my favorite songs but I hardly remember the words. I'll gladly let you know I find out any information on my search I'll gladly let you know :-)

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