Ninna, Nanna

English Translation: Sleep My Darling

For Christmas

Words: “Ninna, Nanna,” a Neopolitan Carol for Three Voices
Translation by the Rev. John O'Connor

Music: From the Library of S. Maria Sopra Minerva

Source: Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #129, pp. 2-3.

Refrain (Sung before and after each verse)

Ninna Nanna, Ninna Nanna
Dormi figlio dormi amore,
Dormi Figlio dormi amore.

Ninna Nanna, Ninna Nanna
Sleep my Darling, sleep my Baby
Sleep my Darling, Sleep my Baby.

1. Conquel piantè quella voce
Bramio hime Brami la croce.
Or ch'è tempo di dormi-re
Dormi Figlio e non vagire,
Verra il tempo del dolore.
Dormi amore.

1. Well I ween, Thy note of sorrow
Sees the Cross in ev'ry morrow.
But tis now the time for sleeping;
Slumber, Son, and hush Thy weeping
Grief will come as soon as may be.
Sleep now, my Baby.

2. Quella bocca pien' di miele
Brama latte aceto e field
Or ch' è tempo di dormire
Verrà il tempo di patire
Verrà il tempo di dolore
Dormi amore
Ninna &c.

2. Lips, your honey be not wasting
Gall and vinegar foretasting,
But tis now the time for sleeping
Slumber, Son and hush Thy weeping
Grief will come as soon as may be
Sleep now, my Baby.
Ninna etc.

3. Dormi figlio, evien' agli anni
Ch'io ti cresco per l'affanni
Or ch' è tempo di dormire
Verrà il tempo di morire
Fra tormenti pena e noia.
Dormi gioia
Ninna &c.

3. Slumber, Son, the days are creeping
Soon enough will come the weeping
Soon enough will death come leaping
Out of scorn and torment cruel
But tis now the time for sleeping
Sleep now, my Jewel
Ninna etc.

4. Quelle tempie si divine
Portaran pungenie e spine
Hor' le posa i a questo petto
Poi la croce avai per letto
Dormi e lascia il pianto amaro
Dormi caro
Ninna &c.

4. Things far off perturb Thy resting,
Canst Thou feel the thorns a-thrusting?
In this heart now hide Thy weeping:
Soon the Cross will bed Thy sleeping,
Lull'd with foemen foiled and snarling;
Sleep now my Darling
Ninna etc.

Sheet Music from Richard Runciman Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #129, pp. 2-3.

Note from Rev. Terry:

This carol was brought to me from Rome by the late Poet Laureate (Dr. Robert Bridges) with a request that I should let him hear my choir sing it. He had heard it in Italy and was fascinated by its childlike simplicity. He obtained this copy from the library of S. Maria, Sopra Minerva. I could induce him to write English words for it (his answer was that “That would just spoil the charm”) so we used to sing it in Italian. Any “Additional accompaniments” would also “spoil the charm,” but I may add that for concert purposes I found an accompaniment of Flutes, Oboes, Bassoons, and Double-Bass most effective.

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