Old English child's prayer help needed

Hi and I hope someone here can find this poem for me. I learned this from my Grandmother when I was tiny, but the 6 lines are all I know. I've heard there are more, and if anyone knows the whole poem I'd really appreciate it. I'd like to design it into a cross-stitch pattern, but really want to do the whole thing. Here's what I know

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. If I should live for other days -- I pray the Lord to guide my ways.

Thanks BUNCHES! Jennifer Ladybug Lane Designs

Reply to
Poetta
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I remember something about

2 angels to my head 2 angels to my feet 4 to carry me when I am dead.
Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

I only recall the first 4 lines

BUT

Have you tried Googling it? There (it seems) a million variations!

Cheryl

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

I know it as - Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take God bless mummy God bless daddy God bless everyone I love Amen

Reply to
Jan Lennie

GOOGLE to the rescue.....

By Eugene Henry Pullen

?NOW I lay me down to sleep: I pray the Lord my soul to keep,? Was my childhood?s early prayer Taught by my mother?s love and care. Many years since then have fled; 5 Mother slumbers with the dead; Yet methinks I see her now, With love-lit eye and holy brow, As, kneeling by her side to pray, She gently taught me how to say, 10 ?Now I lay me down to sleep: I pray the Lord my soul to keep.?

Oh! could the faith of childhood?s days, Oh! could its little hymns of praise, Oh! could its simple, joyous trust 15 Be recreated from the dust That lies around a wasted life, The fruit of many a bitter strife! Oh! then at night in prayer I ?d bend, And call my God, my Father, Friend, 20 And pray with childlike faith once more The prayer my mother taught of yore,? ?Now I lay me down to sleep: I pray the Lord my soul to keep.?

Reply to
Tia Mary

I found another, different single verse on Google. Maybe this is what you are looking for. The original prayer has apparently morphed quite a bit since it was written!!

Now I lay my down to sleep I pray the Lord, my soul to keep Guide me safely through the night And wake me with the morning light

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

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Reply to
Tia Mary

I think the problem is that people are confusing the hymn (from Humperdink's opera "Hansel & Gretel") from the old nursery rhyme.

I only know the first four lines as the nursery prayer. The hymn goes something like:

14 angels guide my sleep

and then denotes 2 at a time. I'm sorry. My brain just won't cooperate and spit out the verses. I used to know this hymn very well. I'll throw it around in my mind today to see if I can come up with a sensible answer.

Dianne

Cheryl Isaak wrote:

Reply to
Dianne Lewandowski

The "Children's Prayer" Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck) lyrics are:

When at night I go to sleep, Fourteen angels watch do keep: Two my head are guarding, Two my feet are guiding, Two are on my right hand, Two are on my left hand, Two who warmly cover, Two who o'er me hover, Two to whom is given To guide my steps to heaven.

The prayer I learned as a child was only the four lines:

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take.

I'm sure there are variants of both float> I think the problem is that people are confusing the hymn (from

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

Brenda, you always come through on this stuff. :-) Thanks. Now my brain can rest. :-)

Dianne

Brenda Lewis wrote:

Reply to
Dianne Lewandowski

And here`s another version I just found with a Google search - just for dog lovers!

Now I lay me down to sleep, The king-size bed is soft and deep.. I sleep right in the centre groove My human being can hardly move! I've trapped her legs, she's tucked in tight And here is where I pass the night No one disturbs me or dares intrude Till morning comes and "I want food!" I sneak up slowly to begin my nibbles on my human's chin. She wakes up quickly, I have sharp teeth- I'm a puppy, don't you see? For the morning's here and it's time to play I always seem to get my way. So thank you Lord for giving me This human person that I see. The one who hugs and holds me tight And shares her bed with me at night!

Anonymous

Pat P

Reply to
Pat P

And for the dieters!

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my fat to take, And leave behind a skinny shell, And all my fat can go to hell!

Pat P

Reply to
Pat P

Not surprised Anonymous wrote that ! Which of us likes to admit we will lie in an uncomfortable position for hours because of the canine/feline that is stretched out on the bed!

I lay in bed with a gd migraine on Thursday and at one point I was suddenly aware that the men who are hanging from the roof in one of those window washing things, were outside my bedroom window re-caulking the windows. I decided, since I way lying on my bed of pain facing away from the window, to remain inert and let them have full benefit of how one marmalade cat can rule a double bed, even if the occupant is suffering lol

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

I love that version Pat - since my dear old Clancy does exactly that.

Sharon (N.B.) ............................................................

Reply to
clancy

Thanks to ALL to wrote (love love LOVE the canine one too -- they do that you know!) I did to a Google search to start with, and found a lot of what was posted here. I also found one that the website owner claimed was probably the original -- but it's just so dreary and depressing. Anyhow, THANKS!!!!

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Reply to
Poetta

It is dreary and depressing, but I think the four lines is actually all there is to the "original".

BonnieBlue (who mostly lurks)

Reply to
BonnieBlue

It was written in a pre-antibiotic era when children quite frequently died of childhood ailments. I think that is reflected in it.

Also, I have yet to see a nursery rhyme or fairy tale (can one call them that anymore ?) that had kind under or overtones lol

Reply to
Lucretia Borgia

"Lucretia Borgia" wrote

Here's one nursery rhyme "I love little pussy/ Her coat is so warm And if I don't tease her/ She'll do me no harm." With the appropriate change of pronouns you can croon it to Bucket. Dawne

Reply to
Dawne Peterson

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep and if I die before I wake I pray the Lord my toys to brake so none of the other kids can use them

The prayer of the selfish child by Shel Siverstein

Reply to
Judy

Now I lay me down to bed Great Spirit, bless my sleepy head As I journey in my sleep I know the Dragons, my soul will keep Mother Earth and Father Sky Watch over me here where I lie

Bless me, Maiden, Mother, Crone. [Touching head and feet] All between my hands and feet belongs to the Goddess.

Another version for those who follow the Goddess.

George

The lyrics to Evening Prayer from the opera Hansel and Gretel bring back great memories of singing the role of Hansel some 50+ years ago in grade school. My last singing role was in the 10th grade when we did a musical. Don't even remember the name. Did some acting after that but found I prefered to be backstage running the lights and props.

Reply to
geoblum

Hee George it is very strange to see this in English

Since Both Melacha and Avoda are in the female Form it is even stranger seeing it like that ... Are you aware of Haim Nachman Bialik`s song ," Le Mi Toda Le Mi Bracha? LaAvoda ve-LaMelacha!" mirjam

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

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