☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a soothing lullaby that a parent or caregiver sings to a child.
- The lyrics invite the child to relax and fall asleep while being surrounded by different images and dreams.
- The lyrics express the loving care of a person towards a child and emphasize the importance of closeness and connection.
- The lines create a poetic image of a peaceful night where the child is surrounded by dreams and fantasies.
- The text highlights that dreams are a way to explore the world and see far.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Midnight Lullaby" by
Tom Waits are about a soothing lullaby that a parent or caregiver sings to a child. The text invites the child to relax and fall asleep while being surrounded by different images and dreams.
The first paragraph of the text shows the loving care that the person provides to the child. The lines "Hush-a bye my baby, no need to be crying" and "You can burn the midnight oil with me as long as you will" convey the message that the child doesn't need to cry and that they can be near the person to spend the night together.
The second verse describes the dreamy atmosphere that surrounds the child. The lines "There's dew drops on the window sill, gumdrops in your head" create a poetic image of a peaceful night where the child is surrounded by dreams and fantasies.
The text then continues by encouraging the child to dream of different places, such as West Virginia or the British Isles. The lines "When you are dreaming, you see for miles and miles" emphasize that dreams are a way to explore the world and see far.
The last verse of the text contains a memory of a special time when the child and the person sat together on the windowsill and had a little chat. The lines "At midnight on the windowsill, and had this little chat" convey a sense of intimacy and connection.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Midnight Lullaby" express the loving care of a person towards a child and encourage them to relax and sink into sleep surrounded by dreams. It is a comforting message that speaks to the power of imagination and emphasizes the importance of closeness and connection.