Comments on: “Here Comes the Sandman” song origins revealed.

By: Eric P

Eric P — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:34:35 +0000

I am from NJ, USA by the way

By: Eric P

Eric P — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:33:46 +0000

Wow! This is incredible! My mom sent me this link because my grandfather used to sing this song to me all the time when I was little, and she did too (of course). Now I have my first born and I started singing it to him while he was in the womb, and it really soothes him. We, too, sing it a bit different, and I’m looking forward to downloading and checking out the sheet music!

Here comes the sandman, stepping so softly
Stealing along on the tips of his toes
And he scatters the sand with his own little hand
in the eyes of sleepy children
Go to sleep, my baby Close your sleepy eyes
The lady moon is watching from out the darkened skies
The little stars are peaping to see if you are sleeping
Go to sleep, my baby Close your eyes Goodnight.
(or we would substitute “children” or “baby” for the name of the child being sung to… I always liked hearing my name in it )

It sometimes brings a tear to my eyes when I think back and recall my grandfather and I lying down to take naps and he would sing this song to me. Or my mom comforting me and helping me get to sleep at night.

By: janice

janice — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:43:53 +0000

I was thrilled to find this Blog and to learn that others know about the Sandman and are passing it down to their children. My grandmother sang it to me and my sisters and we have passed it down to our children. My grandmother told me that her teacher taught the song to her class (one room school in a tiny hamlet north of Kingston, Ontario) when it was time for the children to have a rest and put their heads down at their desks. The teacher would sing the song and choose one child to be “the Sandman” and tiptoe around and pretend to sprinkle sand into the children’s eyes.

It is magical.

Janice

By: Molly Nightingale

Molly Nightingale — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:10:37 +0000

I’m just getting ready to send a newly compiled and color illustrated children’s song book called SING TO ME to the printer with this Sandman song in it. I’m glad I located the exact original words and author information in time to include it.

This song is also in a school songbook called Merry Melodies, available from Prairie View Press, Grenta, Manitoba. (pvp@mts.net) I’d be glad to post a copy of the sheet music I have, which contains the melody (or soprano) line only. Please email with instructions for posting the PDF file if you are interested.

Or the above mentioned printing press would, for a small fee, set the entire original music you have posted into a new clear copy.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:12:44 +0000

Message to Uziboy:

Correction, it was lullabies by Grandpa Sy. Also the music was by Jill Jackson.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 01:41:29 +0000

Message to Uziboy:

I’ve also been looking for the origin of the version of Sandman Lullaby you mentioned. More than 20 years ago, I had a tape and music sheets with that song and other lullabies called “Lullabies by Grandpa Spy”. I still sing those lullabies, and love them. There’s a slim chance I may still have the music sheets, but it would take a lot of searching at my parent’s house. If you happen to see this and are still interested, let me know…

By: Kelly Pauley

Kelly Pauley — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:51:06 +0000

We are late coming to your blog, but we are so excited that you have found the origin of the Sandman lullaby! My mother used to sing us to sleep in our tent while camping, so I guess the other campers got to benefit from her pure soprano. I can’t do it justice, but I sing it to my children also.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:45:18 +0000

My grandfather sang this song to my father who taught it to my mother who sang it to us. Now as a grandfather myself I sing it to my grandson.

By: Christine Blewett

Christine Blewett — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:25:11 +0000

My Grandmom sang this song to us when we were little and would sleep over her house. She had routine she would do with it. All 13 of grandchildren loved it. She never knew where it came from.

Here comes the sandman
Stepping so lightly
On the tips of his toes
He gather the sand with is own little hands
For the eyes of the sleepy children.

So go to sleep my baby close your pretty eyes
The lady moon is watching you from out the dark blue sky
The little birds are peeping to see if you are sleeping
So go to sleepy by baby.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:03:18 +0000

My grandfather used to sing this one to my mother, and my mother to me. Of course, over the years, apparently, most of the lyrics have changed. My wife and I now sing a modified version to our little boy. Mostly we just hum the melody, but some improved lines have seemed to stick with us during our daily/nightly ritual.

Here comes the Sandman
Walking so softly.
He moves around on the tips of his toes
And he sprinkles the sand
With a wave of his hand
In the eyes of sleepy children.

Go to sleep my baby.
Close those sleepy eyes.
The little lambs are all sleeping
Beneath the starry skies.

Go to sleep my baby.
Close your little eyes.
The kitties all are wondering
If you will soon be slumbering.

Go to sleep, my baby.
Close your sleepy eyes.

~~~ and if that doesn’t do it, we add …

Go to sleep, my baby.
Rest your weary head.
The little baby puppies
have all climbed into bed.

Go to Sleep my baby.
Close your tired eyes.
The little birds are peeping
To see if you are sleeping.

Go to sleep my baby.
Go to sleep, goodnight.
~

My wife and I have a good time finding ways to switch around the animals (little lambs, puppies, kitties, uh… baby alligators? whatever fits the meter.) Thanks a TON for sharing this. It was a pleasure reading of this great lullaby’s origin.