Wee Willie Winkie
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"Wee Willie Winkie" è una canzoncina per bambini scozzese, il cui protagonista è una personificazione del sonno.
Il componimento, scritto da William Miller e intitolato Willie Winkie, fu pubblicato per la prima volta in Whistle-binkie: Stories for the Fireside, nel 1841.[1][2][3] Esso ha, nel Roud Folk Song Index, il numero 13711.
Musica[modifica | modifica wikitesto]
Testo[modifica | modifica wikitesto]
Il testo originale del 1841 era scritto in scozzese:
- Wee Willie Winkie rins through the toon,
- Up stairs an' doon stairs in his nicht-gown,
- Tirlin' at the window, crying at the lock,
- "Are the weans in their bed, for it's now ten o'clock?"
- "Hey, Willie Winkie, are ye comin' ben?
- The cat's singin grey thrums to the sleepin hen,
- The dog's speldert on the floor and disna gie a cheep,
- But here's a waukrife laddie, that wunna fa' asleep."
- Onything but sleep, you rogue, glow'ring like the moon,
- Rattling in an airn jug wi' an airn spoon,
- Rumblin', tumblin' roon about, crawin' like a cock,
- Skirlin like a kenna-what, waukenin' sleepin' fock.
- "Hey Willie Winkie, the wean's in a creel,
- Wamblin' aff a bodie's knee like a verra eel,
- Ruggin' at the cat's lug and raveling a' her thrums-
- Hey Willie Winkie - see there he comes."
- Wearit is the mither that has a stoorie wean,
- A wee, stumpie, stousie, that canna rin his lane,
- That has a battle aye wi' sleep afore he'll close an e'e-
- But a kiss frae aff his rosy lips gies strength anew to me.[4]
Versione inglese del 1844:[5]
- Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
- Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
- Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
- Are the children in their bed, for it's past ten o'clock?
- Hey, Willie Winkie, are you coming in?
- The cat is singing purring sounds to the sleeping hen,
- The dog's spread out on the floor, and doesn't give a cheep,
- But here's a wakeful little boy who will not fall asleep!
- Anything but sleep, you rogue! glowering like the moon,'
- Rattling in an iron jug with an iron spoon,
- Rumbling, tumbling round about, crowing like a cock,
- Shrieking like I don't know what, waking sleeping folk.
- Hey, Willie Winkie - the child's in a creel!
- Wriggling from everyone's knee like an eel,
- Tugging at the cat's ear, and confusing all her thrums
- Hey, Willie Winkie - see, there he comes!"
- Weary is the mother who has a dusty child,
- A small short little child, who can't run on his own,
- Who always has a battle with sleep before he'll close an eye
- But a kiss from his rosy lips gives strength anew to me.
Note[modifica | modifica wikitesto]
- ^ The Victorians By Valentine Cunningham
- ^ William Miller
- ^ Dennistoun online, su dennistoun.co.uk. URL consultato il 14 ottobre 2010 (archiviato dall'url originale il 26 maggio 2011).
- ^ Carrick, John Donald; Rodger, Alexander, Willie Winkie, in Whistle-binkie; a collection of songs for the social circle, 1842. URL consultato il 1º giugno 2010.
- ^ I. Opie and P. Opie, The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1951, 2nd edn., 1997), pp. 424-5.
Altri progetti[modifica | modifica wikitesto]
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