Nursery Rhymes›Morna Lullaby
Morna Lullaby
Key: A minor~53 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Sao Vicente, Cape Verde
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Morna Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the port town of Mindelo on Cape Verde’s Sao Vicente island, birthplace of the soulful morna ballad tradition. 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, mai’s little one, the guitar strings are still,
Dm Am E7
the harbor lights of Mindelo glow, upon the island hill.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the ocean breeze 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, mai’s little one, the guitar strings are still, the harbor lights of Mindelo glow, upon the island hill. Sleep now, little one, the ocean breeze 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 “Morna Lullaby” Means
“Mai” means mother in Cape Verdean Kriolu. The port town of Mindelo on Sao Vicente island is the birthplace of morna, a soulful ballad tradition made famous worldwide by singer Cesaria Evora. This original lullaby draws on those harbor and ballad-music images of Cape Verdean island life, with “mai” used as a warm address rather than a literal translation.
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