Satan's Lullaby

Before my eyes I see a dream
And in the vision it doth seem
That Satan looks on earth and sneers
And his hissing voice he calmly clears

And as on the world the devil gazes, like a beast about to spring
His dark, demonic voice he raises, and a cursed lullaby he sings:

“Sleep, oh sleep, my hopeless child
Sleep, oh sleep, my blessed prey
Keep to thy bed safe and mild
Reap the fields another day

Sleep, oh sleep, young suckling babe
Sleep, oh sleep, thou mighty fool
Steep and toilsome is the way
Sheep are lost on crags so cruel

Slumber now upon my breast
Cumber not thy hearts to feel
Sleep, oh sleep, and find thy rest
Sleep, oh sleep, and lose thy zeal”

And so the devil sings to you, and so the devil sings to me
And so we think his words are true, and so we sit, and so we sleep

Oh, that while the LORD doth tarry
We would watch our adversary
Thwart his plans and stop his lies
And silence Satan’s lullaby