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Lullabies for Trying Times

by Ross Crean

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1.
A Fighter's Lullaby 03:10
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It's all clear now, little one, Sleep away. No more fears and disturbia Will be here to stay. Let the sky full of stars Blanket the darkness that gets in your way. Just hold on to the promises That tell you to there's soon to be Much brighter days. Don't carry your shield and sword Through those reveries. Get on the boat, leave them on the shore While you sail to dream. Let the sky full of stars Blanket the darkness that gets in your way. Just hold on to the promises That tell you to there's soon to be Much brighter days. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
2.
Crònan An Maighdinn - Mhara (The Mermaid's Croon) 03:16
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CHORUS : Ho! mo nigh’n dubh He! mo nigh’n dubh Mo nighean dubh ‘S tu mo chuachag. Caidil a luaidh Fo chobhair nan stuadh Air bodha na suain 'S do bhruadar 's a' cheòban Caidil a ghraidh O caidil mu thràth Is t'athair air bhàigh Is fadal mo phòig air Eala rid' thaobh Is roin os do chionn Lacha Mhoire 's a' chaol 'S cha'n fhaobar bhrònag TRANSLATION: Sleep beneath The foam o’ the waves On reefs of sleep Dreaming in dew mist. Thy seabed The seals o’er head From reivers dread Securely guarding While I croon, White swan of the moon, Wild duck of the sound, By thee are resting. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
3.
Siúil A Rún 04:29
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I wish I was on yonder hill 'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill And every tear would turn a mill Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel I'll sell my only spinning wheel To buy my love a sword of steel Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red And round the world I'll beg my bread Until my parents shall wish me dead Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán I wish, I wish, I wish in vain I wish I had my heart again And vainly think I'd not complain Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán But now my love has gone to France to try his fortune to advance If he e'er comes back 'tis but a chance Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán TRANSLATION OF CHORUS: Go, go, go my love Go quietly and peacefully Go to the door and flee with me And may you go safely my dear. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
4.
Bheir Mé Ó 04:21
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Bheir mé óró, bhean ó Bheir mé óró, ó bhean í Bheir mé óró ó hó Tá mé brónach ‘s tú i m’dhith ‘ S iomaí oíche fliuch is fuar Thug mé cuairt is mé liom féin Nó go ráinig mé san áit Mar a raibh grá geal mó chléibh I mo chláirseach ní raibh ceol I mo mheoraibh ní raibh brí Nó gur luaigh tú do rún ‘ S fuair mé eolas ar mo dhán TRANSLATION I've gone away, oh beautiful woman I've gone away, oh dear one I've gone away I'm sad and missing you. Many's the cold and wet night I went out traveling on my own Until I reached the place Where the love of my heart lived. There was no music in my harp There was no strength in my fingers Until you told me of your love And I found my poem. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
5.
All Through the Night 04:07
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Sleep my child and peace attend thee, All through the night. Guardian angels, God will send thee, All through the night. Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and vale in slumber sleeping. I, my loved one's watch, am keeping All through the night. Angels watching e'er around thee, All through the night. Midnight's slumber close surround thee, All through the night. Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and vale in slumber sleeping. I, my loved one's watch, am keeping All through the night. O'er thy spirit gently stealing, Visions of delight revealing, Breathes a pure and holy feeling, All through the night. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
6.
Madeleine 05:14
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Hey, Madeleine, I know your world is crashing down, But save a little courage for me. Well, I've been lost and found, But in the days you've been around, I feel like I could shimmer and be seen. Hang on, we're almost out of here. Maybe you sooner than I. And that's alright... I won't be far behind, So sleep tight. For when it's time to say good-bye, We'll say good night. Hey, Madeleine, So much much for ever growing up, But really, we should probably be relieved. Cos once those curtains close, We'll fly like Peter Pan and Wendy, Finding freedom in that moment of retreat. Hang on, we're almost out of here. Maybe you sooner than I. And that's alright... I won't be far behind, So sleep tight. For when it's time to say good-bye, We'll say good night. Hey, Madeleine, Your world's no longer crashing down. I hoped you saved some courage for me, Cos I'm so scared right now. But I know next time I see you, We'll have health and hair And strength to dance and sing. Hang on, we're almost out of here. I'll soon be there by your side. It's alright... I won't be far behind, So sleep tight. We'll never have to say good-bye. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
7.
Oh, What a World 03:47
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Do you never want to sleep? Such a shame. There's so much missed In the hours of waking. All the tales you've yet to weave, They can only be discovered If you dodge the seldom seen. Oh, what a world... Oh, what a world to dream. You may have never left this room, But throughout the night That pillow cradled worlds around you. It's the edges of your universe That decide the limits of your ever-growing point of view. Oh, what a world... Oh, what a world. Underneath a goodnight moon And a blanket full of stars, Each one a wish that may come true... Oh, what a world. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
8.
Pangur Bán 04:36
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Messe [ocus] Pangur bán, cechtar nathar fria saindán; bíth a menma-sam fri seilgg, mu menma céin im saincheirdd Caraim-se fós, ferr cach clú, oc mu lebrán léir ingnu; ní foirmtech frimm Pangur bán, caraid cesin a maccdán. Ó ru-biam ­ scél cén scis ­ innar tegdias ar n-oéndis, táithiunn ­ dichríchide clius ­ ní fris 'tarddam ar n-áthius. Gnáth-huaraib ar greassaib gal glenaid luch ina lín-sam; os me, du-fuit im lín chéin dliged ndoraid cu n-dronchéill. Fúachaid-sem fri freaga fál a rosc a nglése comlán; fúachimm chéin fri fégi fis mu rosc réil, cesu imdis. Fáelid-sem cu n-déne dul, hi nglen luch ina gérchrub; hi-tucu cheist n-doraid n-dil, os mé chene am fáelid. Cia beimini amin nach ré ní derban cách a chéle; mait le cechtar nár a dán subaigthiud a óenurán. Hé fesin as choimsid dáu in muid du-n-gní cach óenláu; do thabairt doraid du glé for mumud céin am messe. TRANSLATION: Myself and Pangur, cat and sage Go each about our business; I harass my beloved page, He his mouse. Fame comes second to the peace Of study, a still day Unenvying, Pangur's choice Is child's play. Neither bored, both hone At home a separate skill Moving after hours alone To the kill When at last his net wraps After a sly fight Around a mouse; mine traps Sudden insight. On my cell wall here, His sight fixes, burning, Searching; my old eyes peer At new learning, And his delight when his claws Close on his prey Equals mine when sudden clues Light my way. So we find by degrees Peace in solitude, Both of us, solitaries, Have each the trade He loves: Pangur, never idle Day or night Hunts mice; I hunt each riddle From dark to light. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
9.
No More Lullabies 03:01
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No more lullabies now, So just close your eyes. Just close your eyes. At night, it's all black and white, So turn off the lights, Shut down the outside. Cos at any age, it's so beautifully strange To dream at all. It's taking the stage in my mental arrangement Of what I'd like to call home. In sleep, I dream of Japan, With colors more bold Than when you're awake. In mine, I see the Sandman In his pork-pie hat, The twin of Tom Waits. And while he's always dark and dreary, All I see is he's weak and weary, now. Cos at any age, it's so beautifully strange To dream at all. It's taking the stage in my mental arrangement Of what I'd like to call home. No more lullabies now, So just close your eyes. Just close your eyes. - See more at: http://rosscrean.com/lullabies_for_trying_times/#sthash.loRqB8iz.dpuf
10.
Taladh Chriosta (The Christ-Child's Lullaby) 05:50
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about

"Lullabies for Trying Times" is a collection of Gaelic and English lullaby songs, which Ross Crean created for his mother, Charleen, who passed away from Pancreatic Cancer in July of 2014. "My mother begged me for years to record a lullaby-type album," Crean said, "as did many of my friends who were having children. The only thing they all requested was that I make it listenable and interesting for them as adults, so I chose a few traditional favorites as well as composing a few original songs."

During the pre-production process, Ross' mother was diagnosed with terminal Pancreatic Cancer. "After my Mum's diagnosis, I knew immediately that I had to record 'Siúil A Rún'. She sang that song all the time when I was a baby, and it was my chance to pay her back with a gift of that song, so I did a version that she would have enjoyed." Charleen quickly succumbed to the cancer three weeks after her diagnosis. "All we could do was watch," Ross said, "and when she was close to the end, I was able to bring in a copy of the song, and let her hear it. At that point, she was very incoherent, but when I asked her if she wanted to hear the song, she said a very solid YES. I put the earphones in her ears and let it play. I saw tears, and I knew I had gotten it to her just in time. She was still in there, and above anything else, I was so grateful to have that last chance. She was always the first one to listen to my songs, and I was damned is she didn't get to hear that one."

Many of the songs on "Lullabies for Trying Times" are piano accompanied, but also included the drone-infused "Taladh Chriosta", the folk guitar driven "A Fighter's Lullaby" (originally written for the CHERUBS Organization, which helps raise funds for children with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia disorder, also known as CDH), an orchestral accompanied version of the traditional song "Bheir Mé Ó", and the song "All Through the Night", in which Crean uses harp and clarinet to reflect the sense of innocence the words convey.

A tear-jerker here is the song "Madeleine", which tells the story of two inseparable 6-year-old children who were fighting leukemia at the children's hospital Ross volunteered. "Yes, some of these songs are sad in nature,"Ross said, "but I think those that know and hear the story are able to keep in perspective what an amazing connection these two kids had between them. When one was dying, the other one said, 'I'll be right behind you', and kept his promise, passing away two days later. You never expect children to say things like that, or even know how to console others. That's what made this pretty incredible to me."

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released November 18, 2014

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Ross Crean Chicago, Illinois

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