"Slumber my Darling" from Mark O'Connor's "An Appalachian Christmas" | Eastern NC Now

If you are interested in more of "An Appalachian Christmas", click here for your melodic reward.

    "Slumber my Darling" is a classic /traditional melody written by American songwriter Stephen Foster, published in 1862, and now, a century and some tens of years later, is reprised by a number of outstanding musicians. Thank God for this rediscovered hauntingly beautiful melody re-arranged by outstanding contemporary American musicians, like Fiddle /Violin virtuoso Mark O'Connor and the incomparable cellist Yo-Yo Ma.


Mark O'Connor's arrangement of "Slumber my Darling" for his "An Appalachian Christmas" is a stirring rendition where this yet unknown vocalist truly delivers in her performance (in the secondvideo from the toop): Above.
    While "Slumber my Darling" is not a Christmas /Nativity melody, it certainly presents, through the sweet strain of delicately plucked and bowed stringed instruments, reminiscent of a heavenly choir, while the words exude a peace that only our Lord and Savior's unconditional love can perfectly provide. From that spare premise, and the fact that Mark O'Connor included it in his "Appalachian Christmas" album of melodies, which he has performed for the last 8 years, "Slumber my Darling" has the mellow ambience of a Christmas lullaby singing excited children into a deep and undisturbed sleep.

Alison Krauss has sung this upcoming classic, while being accompanied by Mark O'Connor and Yo-Yo Ma, with the video other lovely effort: Below.

• Slumber My Darling

• Composed by Stephen Foster  • As sung by Alison Krauss


• Slumber, my darling, thy mother is near,
• Guarding thy dreams from all terror and fear,
• Sunlight has pass'd and the twilight has gone,
• Slumber, my darling, the night's coming on.
• Sweet visions attend thy sleep,
• Fondest, dearest to me,
• While others their revels keep,
• I will watch over thee.


• Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
• The wandering dews by the flow'rs are caressed,
• Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap thee up warm,
• And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm.


• Slumber, my darling, till morn's blushing ray
• Brings to the world the glad tidings of day;
• Fill the dark void with thy dreamy delight--
• Slumber, thy mother will guard thee tonight,
• Thy pillow shall sacred be
• From all outward alarms;
• Thou, thou are the world to me
• In thine innocent charms.


• Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
• The wandering dews by the flow'rs are caressed,
• Slumber, my darling, I'll wrap thee up warm,
• And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm

    As much as I am a huge fan of Alison Krauss and Union Station, I came to know about the revised "Slumber My Darling" from Mark O'Connor's An Appalachian Christmas productions. Here "Slumber My Darling has been sung by a variety of vocalists with these two offered below.

Mark O'Connor's arrangement of "Slumber my Darling" for his "An Appalachian Christmas" is a stirring rendition where this yet unknown vocalist truly delivers in her performance: Below.


This Mark O'Connor arrangement of "Slumber my Darling" for his "An Appalachian Christmas" features Kate Lee O'Connor as vocalist in perfect pitch: Below.



    Publisher's note: If you are really in the Christmas spirit, or just in the need for more, please click here to access all of the holiday spirit in melody and narrative that BCN can harness and offer for this Yuletide Season.