Nursery Rhymes›African Lullabies›Sleep Small, My Baby-O
Sleep Small, My Baby-OSleep Small, My Baby-O
A lullaby from Liberia

Sleep Small, My Baby-O

Key: A minor~60 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Liberia
Relax In No Time video

▶ More lullabies on YouTube

Sleep Small, My Baby-O Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by Liberia's English-based Kolokwa cradle-song tradition, unique in Africa for its distinct rhythm and warmth. Here you will find the lyrics, English translation, meaning, and chords.

Sing & play

Lyrics & chords

An original arrangement, with guitar & piano chords above each line.

Verse

Am E Am
Sleep small, sleep small, my baby-o,
Dm E Am
da palm dem singing by da shore.
C G
Moon deh high up over town,
Dm E Am
sleep small, sleep small, my dear one-o.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep gently, sleep gently, my little one, the palm trees are singing by the shore. The moon is high above the town, sleep gently, sleep gently, my dear one.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Am
x
Guitar
CEA
Piano
Dm
xx
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E
Guitar
EBG#
Piano
C
x
Guitar
CEG
Piano
G
Guitar
DGB
Piano
Good to know

What “Sleep Small, My Baby-O” Means

Liberia’s English-based Kolokwa (Liberian English) carries its own rhythm and warmth, often used in gentle, sing-song phrases like ‘sleep small’ for a baby drifting off. This original lullaby captures that same coastal, homegrown voice.

More songs to sing & play

Back to all our nursery rhymes and lullabies — each one with a different friend.

← All nursery rhymes Compare Lullaby Traditions 🌍

Sources & rights

  • An original lullaby by Relax In No Time, inspired by the musical traditions of its region. The words, melody, arrangement and recording are ours.
  • Recording and arrangement: real instruments played by hand, no AI music, by Relax In No Time.
  • Chords: written by us for guitar and piano.
  • Translation: our own meaning-for-meaning translation, written for understanding. The sung words stay in the original language.

Spotted a mistake or know a better source? Tell us. How we work · Get in touch