This is partially my own arrangement of the song, as I have been singing it this way since I was in college—- I just liked changing up the tune slightly for different verses, and modulating up.
I am recording a lullaby a day for December, so there will be a total of 31 lullabies. I’m doing this both because it’s fun, and because I would love to be able to live off my work, my writing, my art, and if this goes well, my music. So I am hoping to be able to add more paid subscribers to my substack, The Whimsical Jambearee, if only for the Lullaby Marmalade, which I may continue after December, still recording a lullaby a day for as long as I can.
After the first 4 lullabies, they will only be available to paid subscribers. If you pay $7, you get access to all 31. Do with them what you would like. You might make your own playlist with them. You might add music to them—- they are raw vocals, acapella versions recorded on my iPad through Garageband. I like to think there is a baby that I’m actually singing to, so I’m trying not to get too loud or boisterous. Gently. Gently. We all sing lullabies acapella; we usually hear them acapella from our mothers and fathers—if they sing to us. Hoping you enjoy these for what they are—- a few moments of me singing to you, a few moments of the gentle Christmas spirit floating in.
If you think others might like them, please feel free to tell your friends or post on social media. The first 4 will be open for everyone.
My slightly altered lyrics are below—- I changed the last line of the third verse and the first two lines of the last verse. I also altered the tune slightly—-but then you might do that for your baby, too, as you lull her to sleep. Whatever works to get them to sleep. Merry Christmas!
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I Wonder as I Wander
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die,
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all;
But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's Angels in heaven to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was
The wonder of wonders out under the sky,
and Jesus my Savior did come for to die,
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
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The original lyrics:
I Wonder as I Wander
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die,
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all;
But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's Angels in heaven to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die,
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
Written John Jacob Niles in 1933, based on an Appalachian folk song he heard sung by Annie Morgan in Murphy, North Carolina.
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