Nursery Rhymes›Torres Strait Islander Lullaby
Torres Strait Islander LullabyTorres Strait Islander Lullaby
A lullaby from Australia

Torres Strait Islander Lullaby

Key: A minor~55 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Torres Strait, Australia
Relax In No Time video

Torres Strait Islander Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Torres Strait Islands, between Australia and Papua New Guinea, home to a distinct seafaring Melanesian culture. The Torres Strait Islander flag features a white dhari — a traditional feathered headdress worn in ceremony — a symbol of a seafaring culture built around turtle, dugong, and the surrounding reef. Here you will find the lyrics, meaning, and chords.

Sing & play

Lyrics & chords

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

Verse

Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the coral reef is still,
Dm Am E7
the outrigger canoe is resting now, beside the sandy hill.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the trade wind settles low,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow’s sun will find the islands waking, bright and slow.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep now, little one, the coral reef is still, the outrigger canoe is resting now, beside the sandy hill. Sleep now, little one, the trade wind settles low, tomorrow’s sun will find the islands waking, bright and slow.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Am
x
Guitar
CEA
Piano
Dm
xx
Guitar
DFA
Piano
E7
Guitar
EBG#
Piano
Good to know

What “Torres Strait Islander Lullaby” Means

The Torres Strait Islands, between Australia and Papua New Guinea, are home to a distinct seafaring Melanesian culture built around canoes, coral reefs, and the surrounding sea. This original lullaby draws on those island and ocean images, offered as a respectful tribute to Torres Strait Islander culture.

More songs to sing & play

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

← All nursery rhymes