Lyrics
[Verse 1] Sleep, little shadow, Stay where you are, Under the quilt, Under the star. Don’t touch the window, Don’t touch the light, Something walks slowly Around us tonight. Sleep, little shadow, Fold into me, The house is awake, But you need not be. The latch gives a shiver, The floor gives a sigh, Something goes by us, But let it go by. [Pre-Chorus] Hush now, Hush now, Don’t say a word. Old little noises Like to be heard. Hush now, Hush now, Keep your eyes closed. The night leans near, Then the night goes. [Chorus] Sleep, little shadow, Sleep, little thing, Don’t follow the hallway, Don’t follow the singing. The room is small, And the dark is deep, I sing to the fear And I sing it to sleep. Sleep, little shadow, Sleep, don’t wake, The walls bend low But they do not break. The house hums soft, The old boards know, I keep the watch Where you need not go. [Verse 2] Sleep, little shadow, The moon’s gone thin, The curtains breathe And the cold gets in. The rocking chair Moves all alone, Like something forgot It is not at home. Sleep, little shadow, Your name stays hid, I keep it tucked Like a careful lid. The hinges listen, The doorknob turns, Some things come back When the nightlight burns. [Pre-Chorus] Hush now, Hush now, Don’t turn your head. Some soft little footsteps Belong to the dead. Hush now, Hush now, Stay small, stay slow. Let the dark pass by, Let the dark not know. [Chorus] Sleep, little shadow, Sleep, little thing, Don’t follow the hallway, Don’t follow the singing. The room is small, And the dark is deep, I sing to the fear And I sing it to sleep. Sleep, little shadow, Sleep, don’t wake, The walls bend low But they do not break. The house hums soft, The old boards know, I keep the watch Where you need not go. [Bridge] If the music box Starts on its own, Let it keep turning, Leave it alone. If a small voice Calls from the door, Hold to the blanket, Ask nothing more. If the winding clicks, If the toy bells shake, If the old floor answers, Pretend you sleep. If the whisper knows The name you keep, I will sit with it Till it goes weak. [Final Chorus] Sleep, little shadow, Sleep, little thing, Don’t follow the hallway, Don’t follow the singing. The room is small, And the dark is deep, I sing to the fear And I sing it to sleep. Sleep, little shadow, Go soft, go low, Where sad little children In old songs go. The house hums on, The night breathes slow, I keep the watch Where you need not go. [Outro] Sleep, little shadow, I’m still near. Sleep, little shadow, There’s nothing here. Sleep, little shadow, The house will keep Its crooked mouth While you go to sleep.