Fieldwork Archive
The version of this song known today came from composer Zheng Jianchun when he traveled to the rural areas of Xinjin County (modern-day Pulandian, near Dalian in Liaoning Province) to conduct musical fieldwork.
There, he heard local mothers singing traditional Southern Liaoning folk tunes (Liaonan Xiaodiao) to their children.
He then adapted the musical elements into a unified composition in 1960.
The song is deeply intertwined with the cultural customs of Northeast China,
particularly the use of the youche (悠车),
a traditional hanging cradle made of wood or birch bark,
suspended from the ceiling beams of rural homes to rock infants safely above the heated brick floors (kang).
There are more verses in addition to this one, along with slight differences in the lyrics that people use.
月儿明，风儿静 。
树叶挂窗棂。
小宝宝，快睡觉。
睡在那个梦中。
The moon is bright, the wind is quiet.
The leaves hang over the windowpane.
My baby, fall asleep quickly.
Sleep, dreaming sweet dreams.
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Connecticut, United States