Laylay (Azerbaijani Lullaby)
Key: C~52 BPMGuitar & Piano chords
Laylay is both the word for lullaby in Azerbaijani and the soft, repeated sound mothers hum to settle a child to sleep, much like “la-la” in English. Woven through with the image of a red rose, this is one of the first songs an Azerbaijani child ever hears.
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Verse 1
C F C
Laylay, laylay, sleep, my sweet, the rose is folding red,
F C G7
deep inside the soft red rose, sweet dreams await your head.
Verse 2
C F C
Laylay, laylay, close your eyes, the garden rests tonight,
F C G7
in the petals of the rose, you’ll find your sleep is light.
Play it
Chords — guitar & piano
C
Guitar
Piano
F
Guitar
Piano
G7
Guitar
Piano
Good to know
What this song means
In Azerbaijan, lullabies (laylalar) are far more than a way to help a child sleep; they carry a mother’s hopes, wisdom and love for her child from one generation to the next. “Laylay” itself, the word repeated at the start of nearly every verse, is both the name of the song and the soothing sound that gives it its gentle, rocking rhythm.
Traditional Azerbaijani laylay lullaby style. The English lyrics are an original singable arrangement offered as a respectful tribute to this living tradition.
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