Suo-Gan

“Have no fear now, leaves are knocking,
Gently knocking at our door;
Have no fear, waves are beating,
Gently beating on the shore.
Sleep my darling, none shall harm you
Nor alarm you, never cry,
In my bosom sweetly smiling
And beguiling those on high.”

The scene begins on a grassy bank outside of the wire of prisoner of war camp in central China, a young boy is a shadowed against the sinking sun as Japanese planes take off. The boy then sings “Suo-Gan” a lullaby, his singing carries over the wire and over the sound of the war planes. He sings a lullaby for himself, for the young Japanese friend that has just flown off to never return, his young voice carries the haunting refrain over all the destruction of war. It fills the theater and stirred the restiveness of my spirit. The movie, Empire of the Sun.

Be nice if someone would sing us a lullaby, the world needs the reassurance of Suo-Gan.

"Here tonight I tightly hold you
And enfold you while you sleep;
Why, I wonder, are you smiling,
Smiling in your slumber deep?
Are the angels on you smiling
And beguiling you with charm,
While you also smile, my blossom,
In my bosom soft and warm?"

Good night.

Sweet dreams, yourself.

"Empire of the Sun" was a beautiful film.I fell in love with Suo-Gan the moment I heard it. My mother, of Welsh extraction, told me it was a Welsh lullaby.

I had it played for the candle-lighting ceremony at my wedding. It never fails to make me cry.

I never knew the English translation, though. Thanks. I'm bookmarking this.