Nursery RhymesRarotonga Lullaby
Rarotonga LullabyRarotonga Lullaby
A lullaby from Cook Islands

Rarotonga Lullaby

Key: A minor~53 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Rarotonga, Cook Islands
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Rarotonga Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by Rarotonga, the largest Cook Island, home to the tivaevae quilting tradition. A tivaevae quilt is rarely made by one person alone — groups of women traditionally gather for a working bee, stitching together for days at a time — and a finished quilt is treasured as a gift for major life events like births, weddings, and funerals. 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 tivaevae quilt is still,
Dm Am E7
the ukulele rests tonight, upon the island hill.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the lagoon rests so near,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.
In English

What the words mean

“Sleep now, little one, the tivaevae quilt is still, the ukulele rests tonight, upon the island hill. Sleep now, little one, the lagoon rests so near, tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.”
Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

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

What “Rarotonga Lullaby” Means

On Rarotonga, the largest Cook Island, women gather to stitch tivaevae, brightly colored appliqued quilts made as gifts for life’s important occasions. This original lullaby draws on those quilting and lagoon images of Rarotongan life.

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