Wynken, Blynken and Nod
Eugene Field, Lucy Simon (?)
Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe;
Down a river of crystal light into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three.
"We've come to fish for the herring fish that live in the beautiful sea.
Nets of silver and gold have we," said Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.
The old moon laughed and he sang a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe.
And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew.
Now the silver stars are the herring fish that swim in that beautiful sea;
"Cast your nets wherever you wish never afraid are we!"
So sang the stars to the fishermen three - Winkin', and Blinkin', and Nod.
So all night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam.
'Til down from the skies came the wooden shoe bringing the fisherman home.
Now we shall name you the fisherman three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.
Winkin' and Blinkin' are two little eyes and Nod is a little head.
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's trundle bed.
So close your eyes and dream those dreams, that some said could not be
And you shall see those beautiful things as you rock on your misty sea,
Well the old shoe rocked the fishermen three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.
From Dave.
About
A nursery rhyme feel about this. But an art nursery rhyme, rather than a folk one. I thought when I heard it - a lullabye. And yet it's not really a lullabye, but a song for grown-ups trying to evoke a child-like fantasy world. The explanation is that this is 19th century children's verse, and that's what it was like.
Don't get me wrong, I really like this song. I am a grown-up. Sort of.
It was written as a poem by Eugene Field (also called the children's poet), published in 1889. The original title was Dutch Lullaby, later Wynken Blynken and Nod. It was made into a cartoon by Disney in 1938, with someone singing the poem. Not this tune.
In 1964 The Simon Sisters (Lucy and Carly Simon) released a version (Winkin' Blinkin' and Nod) which became a minor hit. This is presumably the source. And although it sounds slightly different the tune (Lucy Simon) is more or less the same.
In the original poem the third verse is
All night long their nets they threw To the stars in the twinkling foam
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe Bringing the fishermen home
T`was all so pretty a sight it seemed As if it could not be
And some folks thought t`was a dream they dreamed Of sailing the beautiful sea
But I shall name you the fishermen three Winkin` and Blinkin` and Nod
Somewhere along the line the four lines got lost, and there are other differences.