This week’s choice is the lyrics to “Morningtown Ride” by Malvina Reynolds, and it is dedicated to dear Charlotte and Tom and their first child, due in November.
Maybe it is raining where our train will ride;
All the little travellers are warm and snug inside
Rocking rolling riding out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
- Malvina Reynolds (1900—1978)
Poem 387. Morningtown Ride
Train whistle blowing makes a sleepy noise
Underneath their blankets go all the girls and boys
Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
Driver at the engine, fireman rings the bell
Sand man swings the lantern to show that all is well
Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
Maybe it is raining where our train will ride;
All the little travellers are warm and snug inside
Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day
Somewhere there is Morningtown many miles away
Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
Rocking, rolling, riding, out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
This lullaby was written by the folk singer Malvina Reynolds but is perhaps best known as the #2 UK hit for the Seekers in 1966.
It presents sleeping through the night as a journey with the children as passengers in a train’s sleeper carriages with the Sandman as guard with the destination of Morningtown. Whatever the conditions outside, “all the little travellers are warm and snug inside” (a metaphor that works for the unborn child too). The refrain emphasises the gentle “Rocking rolling riding” of a train carriage (or a crib) as the child settles down to sleep (hopefully for long enough to allow their parents some rest too) until we reach the place where “Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day” but for the moment, sleep is the most important thing and Morningtown is “many miles away.”
I chose this because I remember the performance by The Seekers which was played to me when I was little (Reynolds wrote “Little Boxes” which was also often played), and it seemed an appropriate way to mark the wonderful joy I feel. Nicola would have been thrilled and excited beyond any measure to have a grandchild on the way and my delight and elation are equally difficult to express!
This choice is dedicated to Charlotte and to Tom and to their baby. I wish them joy and happiness all their life.