Russian Lullabies

Russian Lullabies Posted by bota on Dec 3, 2021 in Culture, Music, Russian life

Не зна́ю, как вы, но в декабре́ мне о́чень хо́чется спать!¹ Whether it’s the end-of-the-year blues or the fact that we only get about 8 hours of daylight – either way, I envy my childhood years when sleep was something I was encouraged to do. If only I could have those afternoon naps in kindergarten and 9pm kids bedtime shows.

Speaking of which, I would like to share a beloved Russian TV show for kids Споко́йной но́чи, Малыши́!² and a few Russian lullabies that I grew up with. Lullabies are a delightful way to get connected with the culture and the language you are learning. Those melodies and words are the ones that a form a nurturing connection and a strong bond between a baby and its parents. Likewise, you can find a new appreciation for the beautiful melodies and the vocabulary you are learning in Russian.

Колыбе́льные пе́сни

Колыбе́льные пе́сни³ comes from the word колыбе́ль (sometimes referred to as ‘лю́лька’), which is a cradle, also known as a rocker or bassinet. People rarely use this word in day-to-day conversations these days but it evokes the most comforting and soothing images. I suspect that the soft Russian л sound has a lot to do with it, since two of the most nurturing words share that softness, as in любо́вь⁴ and ла́ска⁵.

Фото автора cottonbro: Pexels

The TV show

This is Спокойной Ночи, Малыши! just as I remember it when I was five.

All the episodes have the same format like the one above. The ‘adult’ host and the other puppet characters, (here we have the piglet Хрюша and the dog Филя) are dealing with some kind of problem or talking about toys and such. Either way, the content is very informative or educational in some type of way. And at the end, there is always a little cartoon or a part of a movie for kids. The show still airs today and has been helping kids (and parents) get ready for bed since 1964.

Most importantly, every kid in Russia will recognize the show’s lullaby, although different generations would associate different animated clips with it.

Спят уста́лые игру́шки, кни́жки спят.
Одея́ла и поду́шки ждут ребя́т.
Да́же ска́зка спать ложи́тся,
Что́бы но́чью нам присни́ться.
Ты ей пожела́й:
Баю-ба́й.

The tired toys sleep, the books sleep
Blankets and pillows are waiting for the children;
Even the fairy tale goes to sleep,
So that she can come to us in our dreams.
Wish it:
Byu – bye.

Фото автора Sam K: Pexels

In the clip above, when Хрюша и Филя play a song for the adult host, Юля, they show her a little animation of another very well-known Russian lullaby Спи моя радость усни:

Спи, моя ра́дость, усни́.
В до́ме пога́сли огни́,
Пти́чки прити́хли в са́ду,
Ры́бки усну́ли в пруду.
Ме́сяц на не́бе блести́т,
Ме́сяц в око́шко гляди́т.
Глазки скоре́е сомкни́,
Спи, моя ра́дость, усни́.

Sleep, my love, sleep!
The house lights go out;
The birds are quiet in the garden,
Fish fell asleep in the pond,
The moon shines in the sky,
The moon is looking into the window
Close your eyes now,
Sleep, my love, sleep!

Image by Press 👍👍 Love you 💖from Pixabay

Баю–баюшки–баю

Despite the popularity of the show Спокойной ночи, малыши! the most famous Russian lullaby is Баю–баюшки–баю. This melodic phrase doesn’t really mean anything but is similar to “Hush little baby, don’t say a word”. There are many variations of this bedtime song but my mom mostly sang the following four lines from it:

Баю-баюшки-баю,
Не ложися на кра́ю –
Придёт се́ренький волчо́к,
И уку́сит за бочо́к.

Bayu-bayushki-bayu,
Ne lozhisya na krayu –
Pridot seren’kiy volchok,
I ukusit za bochok.

The premise of the lullaby above is that the baby shouldn’t lie on the edge of the bed, because otherwise a grey wolf will come and bite you on the side of your tummy. Nothing like a sprinkle of fear to help a little one fall asleep.

One last thing before I sign-off – don’t forget to read Nadya’s blog on other ways to say ‘goodnight in Russian’.