Brief presentation

A bitter and theatrical anti-war song, freely inspired by Trilussa’s poem “Ninna nanna della guerra.”
Sleep Child Sleep contrasts the tenderness of a lullaby with the cruelty of war, power and money, turning a quiet voice for a child into a harsh song of accusation.

Lyrics

Sleep, child, sleep.
Outside the world is making noise.
They say it is for the homeland,
but it smells of blood and money.

Lullaby, lullaby,
the child is crying for the breast,
close your eyes, my little darling,
for the night is full of poison.

Sleep softly, do not look
at what is happening in the world,
among the swords and the rifles
of those who say: “We are civilized.”

Sleep, sleep, my child,
while this hell is still burning,
war walks over the poor
and leaves the rich in eternal warmth.

Sleep, sleep, do not hear
the drums and the bells,
those who command make speeches,
those who obey lose their bread.

Lullaby, you do not hear
the sighs and the laments
of people killing one another
for a madman who commands.

They fight for race,
for a flag or for a faith,
for a God who cannot be seen,
but who protects those who possess.

And the butcher sovereign
blesses his cannon,
then washes his hands
with words of reason.

Sleep, sleep, my child,
while this hell is still burning,
war walks over the poor
and leaves the rich in eternal warmth.

Sleep, sleep, do not hear
the drums and the bells,
those who command make speeches,
those who obey lose their bread.

That den of murderers
that stains the earth with blood
knows very well that war
is a great business of money.

Some die in the mud,
some count the resources,
some weep over coffins,
some laugh in the stock markets.

Sleep now, little darling,
while this slaughter goes on,
for tomorrow the great kings
will be friends again, as they were yesterday.

They will shake each other’s hands,
they will say, “My dear friend,”
while the people left behind
will only pay the ancient bill.

And gathered all together,
without a shadow of remorse,
they will give us a fine speech
about peace and work.

Sleep, sleep, my child,
do not wake up right now,
those who saved the crown
leave all the rest to others.

Sleep, sleep, do not know
how this story turns:
those who sent men to die
will then take the glory too.

Sleep, child, sleep.
War always has two hands:
one holds the rifle,
the other counts the money.

Notes

Sleep Child Sleep is a musical reworking freely inspired by Trilussa’s poem “Ninna nanna della guerra.”
The song preserves the bitter irony and the political force of the original text, but reshapes it into a dark lullaby where innocence is set against violence, hypocrisy and profit. Its quiet tone makes the accusation even harder.

Listen to the song