John Allee

Philomel/Hold thy Peace
Words by William Shakespeare
Music by John Allee
 

You spotted snakes with double tongue

Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen

Newts and blindworms, do no wrong

Come not near our fairy queen

(And I say)

Philomel, with melody

Sing in our sweet lullaby

Lulla, lulla, lullabee, lulla, lulla, lullaby

Never harm

Nor spell nor charm

Come our lovely lady nigh

So good night, with lullabee

So good night, with lullaby aby-ee

Ba dee ba da ba do-way

Ba dee ba da ba do-way

 

Weaving spiders, come not here

Hence, you long-legged spinners, hence

Beetles black, approach not near

Worm nor snail, do no offense

 

(I say it again)

Philomel, with melody

Sing in our sweet lullaby

Lulla, lulla, lullabee, lulla, lulla, lullaby

Never harm

Nor spell nor charm

Come our lovely lady nigh

 

So good night, with lullabee

So good night, with lullaby aby-ee

Ba dee ba da ba do-way

Ba dee ba da ba do-way

 

Coda:

Hold thy peace

I prithee hold thy peace, thou knave

Thou knave, thou knave, thou knave

​

Ba dee ba da ba do-way

Ba dee ba da ba do-way

​

Hush up!

© 2019 John Allee/Portuguese Knees Music ASCAP.
Lyrics Reprinted with Permission.  All Rights Reserved.