Nursery Rhymes›Manman Drum Lullaby
Manman Drum Lullaby
Key: A minor~53 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Manman Drum Tradition, Haiti
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Manman Drum Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by Haiti’s traditional drum ensembles, led by the largest drum, the manman, which sets the rhythm for all the others. 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, manman’s little one, the drums have quieted still,
Dm Am E7
the rhythm rests until tomorrow, upon the mountain hill.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the gentle beat is near,
Dm Am E7
tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.
In English
What the words mean
“Sleep now, manman’s little one, the drums have quieted still, the rhythm rests until tomorrow, upon the mountain hill. Sleep now, little one, the gentle beat is near, tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.”
Play it
Chords — guitar & piano
Am
Guitar
Piano
Dm
Guitar
Piano
E7
Guitar
Piano
Good to know
What “Manman Drum Lullaby” Means
“Manman” means mother in Haitian Creole, and it is also the name of the largest drum in Haiti’s traditional drum ensembles, the one that leads the rhythm for all the others. This original lullaby draws on those drum-ensemble images of Haitian musical life, with “manman” used as a warm address rather than a literal translation.
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