Open Features: Swing Me In The Moonlight
Jill Besant, who has just discovered Open Writing and enjoys reading our magazine, wants help in tracking down the origins of a song.
Answers please to peter@openwriting.com
What a delight, reading The Melody Lingers On column in Open Writing. It prompted me to wonder if anyone has heard of the following song. My father sang it to me when I was a little girl as he swung me in his arms before putting me to bed. I have yet to meet someone who has heard it.
Subsequently I sang it to my three children, and I now sing it to my grandchildren. They love it and readily join in. Adults who hear it think it is a delightful song - despite my singing.
It goes as follows:
Swing me in the moonlight,
In the moonlight Joe
Swing high, swing low.
Swing me over the apple tree Joe.
Don't wait for a spoon Joe
There's a lovely moon o'erhead.
I'll pay you Joe the kisses I owe
When the moon has gone to bed.
