The peacefulness of the music is as calm as the sound of a thrush singing in the evening The baby is feeling drowsy and ready for sleepĪs still, as the trill, of a thrush, in a twilight high The baby is getting tired and it's almost time for sleep Sleepy hands are creeping to the end of the clock Please play some music to help the baby fall asleep Won't you play the music so the cradle can rock Finally, the song invites the baby to embrace sleep and not cry, promising the comfiness of a ragtime lullaby. The image of a silvery note above the moon tells the listener that they're not alone on this journey to dreamland but accompanied by other dreamers who seek solace in the melody of the lullaby. The first line suggests that listeners can hear the rhythm of ripples on the surface of a boat as we sail away towards the shore of rest and dreams. The second verse of the song takes us on a metaphorical journey as we sail away to dreamland. The trill of a thrush in the evening is also used as a metaphor to demonstrate the calm and peaceful feeling that this lullaby brings to the listener. The imagery of sandman approaching is powerful, inviting the listener to recognize the cues of his arrival in the sound of a lullaby. The idea of a lullaby in ragtime serves to indicate that the rhythm and pace of the song is gentle and calming, setting the perfect mood to send a child off to sleep. The opening verse invites the musician to 'play the music' so the cradle can rock while 'sleepy hands' reach the end of the clock. The lyrics of Harry Nilsson's song 'Lullaby in Ragtime' perfectly capture the essence of a soothing lullaby.

Lullaby in ragtime tab