Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

SATB and cello

Eugene Field’s classic poem is beautiful, comforting and has, more than likely, been recited to millions of children throughout the English-speaking world before they fall asleep.  I first came into contact with the text, oddly enough, when it was used in the 1993 film version of Dennis the Menace in a scene where the elderly Mrs. Wilson is trying to put Dennis to bed.  That heartwarming scene piqued my interest and, combined with a familiar melody my grandmother taught me as a child, led to this piece.

Wynken, Blynken and Nod was commissioned by the Northern Arizona University Singers (Dr. Andrew Last, conductor) and was written as a kind of “modern lullaby.”  It received its premiere on April 25, 2004 and is dedicated with love to Kate Jameson on her first birthday.

The Text

 By Eugene Field (1850-1895)

Wynken, Blynken and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe—
Sailed off on 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 have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in the beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!”
Said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in the beautiful sea—
“Now cast your nets wherever you wish—
Never afraid are we;”
So cried the stars to the fisherman three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

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 fisherman home;
‘Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought ‘twas a dream they’d dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea—
But I shall name you the fisherman three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is the wee one’s trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fisherman three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Performed by the Donald Brinegar Singers
(Donald Brinegar, conductor).