Melodies embedded with grim and fierce language comprise the content of these songs.
Lullabies: A Historical Reflection of Societal Reality
Lullabies, traditionally meant to soothe babies to sleep, often hide a more unsettling truth within their lyrics. Research reveals that these songs have been sung with disturbing content across various cultures worldwide.
In an exclusive interview, musicologist Stéphane Aubinet of the University of Oslo shared insights into the intriguing nature of lullabies. "While we generally associate lullabies with gentle melodies and innocent lyrics, they span a wide range - from cheerful, harmonious songs to ones with morbid and violent remnants," he explained.
One of the most unsettling examples he provided was a Norwegian lullaby threatening to grab the child by the leg and hit them against the wall if they didn't sleep. In other instances, lullabies from Russia and the Baltic countries described the child's funeral in detail. The popular English-speaking lullaby, "Rock-a-bye Baby," features a cradle hanging from a branch that breaks, further highlighting the contrast between the peaceful intent and the ominous content.
Aubinet has devoted extensive study to understanding lullabies and sleep songs, delving into their history from the earliest recorded lullaby dating back to around 2000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia to the modern-day innovations like apps for toddlers.
Mirroring Society's Troubles
Musicologist Miriam Akkermann of TU Dresden and FU Berlin emphasizes that lullabies serve as mirrors of the society in which they are created. They provide an insight into the anxieties, fears, and hardships faced by people during their time. "Song lyrics are a means to process personal experiences, traumatic events, and feelings such as frustration or anger," Akkermann states.
The researchers involved in the Lullabyte network stressed the importance of singing as a method to promote a child's well-being. A study published in the journal "Child Development" revealed a positive impact of sung lullabies on the babies' well-being. Mothers and other caregivers who were encouraged to sing more to their babies using a smartphone-based music program noticed an improvement in their babies' well-being.
As part of the current Berlin Sleeps In project, lullabies from over 170 nations in Berlin are being collected. The Landesmusikrat Berlin has found that singing is done less and less in families with young children. The reasons remain unclear, but many people still remember lullabies from their own childhood.
The positive effect of sung lullabies on the well-being of babies is thought to be similar to skin-to-skin contact, according to experts like Eun Cho of Yale University.
Lullabies: The Mother of All Songs
Aubinet sites Rodrigo Caro, the Spanish poet, who described lullabies as "the mother of all songs and the song of all mothers." In his analysis, around 97% of the 124 cultures considered use songs to help children fall asleep.
Among the Sámi, an indigenous people in Northern Europe, each child received their own identity-creating melody called Dovdna. Similar traditions of individual songs also existed among Inuit cultures in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, as well as among indigenous peoples in Siberia.
In sharp contrast, many Northern and Western European countries lean towards cheerful, hopeful lullabies, reflecting a new romantic view of children as innocent beings. "This is how some of our most famous lullabies were born, including Brahms' 'Lullaby Opus 49,'" says Aubinet. However, this idyllic world is scarce in Japanese lullabies from the early 20th century, where songs threatened to drown a crying child or emphasized the hardships faced by young mothers.
Many people seem unaware of the sometimes dark lyrics, discovered through feedback on the Berlin falls asleep project. This revelation underscores the ongoing fascination with understanding the historical significance and emotional resonance of lullabies.
The rising trend of using music as a sleep aid among adults indicates a growing appreciation for the calming power of melody before slumber. Whether this is due to the music itself or the fixed ritual of listening to music at bedtime remains unclear. Regardless, sleep rituals generally have a positive effect.
- The historical significance of lullabies, being a reflection of societal reality, extends to modern times, as singing lullabies can promote a child's health-and-wellness, as supported by studies like the one published in "Child Development."
- In relating lullabies to societal concerns, Miriam Akkermann posits that these songs serve as mirrors, offering insights into the society's anxieties, fears, and hardships, such as processing personal experiences and feelings through song lyrics.
- As Stéphane Aubinet notes, while lullabies often convey a peaceful intent, they can encompass a wide range, from cheerful songs to those with morbid and violent remnants, a phenomenon that can be observed even in the context of the science of sleep and home-and-garden, where singing lullabies can provide a calming influence, mirroring the tranquility of one's living environment, conducive to healthy lifestyle practices.
