Tanka LullabyTanka Lullaby
A lullaby from Hong Kong

Tanka Lullaby

Key: A minor~53 BPMGuitar & Piano chordsOriginal · Tanka, Hong Kong
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Tanka Lullaby Lyrics. An original lullaby inspired by the Tanka, a boat-dwelling fishing community that once lived their entire lives on junks in Hong Kong’s harbors. For generations, the Tanka were barred from living on land and building permanent homes, so entire families were born, raised, and grew old aboard their junks — a whole way of life shaped by the water rather than the shore. 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 houseboat rocks so slow,
Dm Am E7
the fishing lantern glows tonight, beneath the harbor’s glow.
Am Dm Am
Sleep now, little one, the junk sail 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 houseboat rocks so slow, the fishing lantern glows tonight, beneath the harbor’s glow. Sleep now, little one, the junk sail 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 “Tanka Lullaby” Means

The Tanka, a boat-dwelling fishing community, once lived their entire lives on junks and sampans in Hong Kong’s harbors, a floating way of life still remembered today. This original lullaby draws on those houseboat and harbor images of Tanka life.

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Sources & rights

  • An original lullaby by Relax In No Time, inspired by the musical traditions of its region. The words, melody, arrangement and recording are ours.
  • Recording and arrangement: real instruments played by hand, no AI music, by Relax In No Time.
  • Chords: written by us for guitar and piano.
  • Translation: our own meaning-for-meaning translation, written for understanding. The sung words stay in the original language.

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