A lullaby from Belarus

Polesian Lullaby

Key: A minor~54 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Polesia, Belarus

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Polesian Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Polesian people of Belarus, who live among the vast Pripyat marshes, the largest wetland in Europe. The Pripyat Marshes stretch across the Belarus-Ukraine border, and for centuries their difficult, waterlogged terrain kept the region relatively isolated, helping preserve a distinct Polesian dialect that linguists consider a fascinating transitional bridge between Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Russian. 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 marshland reeds are still,

Dm Am E7

the beekeeper’s hives rest quiet now, beside the wooded hill.

Am Dm Am

Sleep now, little one, the river mist 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, little one, the marshland reeds are still, the beekeeper’s hives rest quiet now, beside the wooded hill. Sleep now, little one, the river mist is near, tomorrow’s sun will rise for you, and chase away all fear.”

Play it

Chords — guitar & piano

Guitar

Piano

Guitar

Piano

Guitar

Piano

Download free chord sheet (PDF)

Good to know

What “Polesian Lullaby” Means

The Polesian people live among the vast Pripyat marshes of Belarus, the largest wetland in Europe, where fishing, beekeeping, and wooden village architecture have shaped daily life for centuries. This original lullaby draws on those marshland and river images of Polesian life.

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