A gentle Tongan lullaby, inspired by the small creatures of the lagoon — a crab, a hermit crab, a turtle — that Tongan families have long woven into bedtime stories for their children. Tonga is the only Pacific island nation never colonized by a foreign power, and to this day important gatherings often open with a kava ceremony, a slow, calm ritual not unlike the unhurried pace of this song.
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Verse 1
C F C
Sleep now, little one, the lagoon has gone to rest,
F C G7
the turtle and the hermit crab are calling from the crest.
Verse 2
C F C
Sleep now, little one, our island’s watching still,
F C G7
tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, but rest now, sleep until.
Play it
Chords — guitar & piano
C
Guitar
Piano
F
Guitar
Piano
G7
Guitar
Piano
Good to know
What this song means
Tongan lullabies, such as the traditional song Ana Latu, are often built from small, warm images of island life — a crab scuttling by, a turtle paddling home, a family gathered on their island. This lullaby draws on those same gentle, familiar images, passed down affectionately within Tongan families.
Traditional Tongan lullaby style, inspired by the country’s real oral tradition of island and sea-creature imagery. The English lyrics are an original singable arrangement offered as a respectful tribute.
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