Thanks to Jim McAdams for commissioning us to arrange and record this wonderful song. The words are by Bill Caddick, who took the tune from Tchaikovsky (Symphony No. 6, Pathetique) who in turn borrowed it from a southern Italian lullaby entitled Piva Piva, so in that way the melody came full circle!
lyrics
When midnight comes and people homeward tread,
Seek now your blanket and your feather bed;
Home comes the rover, his journey's over.
Yield up the nighttime to old John O' Dreams,
Yield up the nighttime to old John O' Dreams.
Across the hills the sun has gone astray,
Tomorrow's cares are many dreams away;
The stars are flying, your candle's dying,
Yield up the darkness to old John O' Dreams,
Yield up the darkness to old John O' Dreams.
Both man and master in the night are one,
All things are equal when the day is done;
The Prince and Ploughman, the slave and the freeman,
All find their comfort in old John O' Dreams,
All find their comfort in old John O' Dreams.
And when sleep comes, the dreams are running clear;
The hawks of morning cannot reach you here.
Sleep is a river, flow on forever,
And for your boatman choose old John O' Dreams,
And for your boatman choose old John O' Dreams.
credits
from John O' Dreams,
released October 30, 2020
Lyrics by Bill Caddick (1967)
Melody from an Italian lullaby 'Piva, Piva' via Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, Pathetique
The Wilderness Yet combines the acclaimed talents of folksinger Rosie Hodgson, traditional fiddler Rowan Piggott, and
guitarist-flautist Philippe Barnes. Independently, they have earned audiences’ esteem as consummate musicians; together, they weave a tapestry of traditional & self-penned songs with a charm and familarity that is usually only found in seasoned line-ups....more
"The blend of songs and tunes fit perfectly, each combination revealing a consummate skill...a debut long waited for; many will be pleased to hear of its arrival, and none will be disappointed..." The Wilderness Yet
"Even the bees themselves are almost present, as their buzz is imitated by a shruti drone... The bees are a vehicle for optimistic action and a means for folk to be refocused to its political roots." The Wilderness Yet
supported by 18 fans who also own “John O' Dreams”
Love the complexity of this track and the rising and falling of the violins, and the texture. Makes me want to dance.
Thank you so much for this album. I really love it, and find it really inspiring my own work on the Witchcraft Trials ❤️ tararosehip
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 29, 2020