John O'Dreams

John O'Dreams although often called a traditional Irish song, was written by Bill Caddick, using a tune by Tchaikovsky. The titular central character is equivalent to the Sandman, a fictional character who sends people to sleep. The song portrays all people as being "equal in sleep":

All things are equal when the day is done

The Prince and the ploughman, the slave and freeman

All find their comfort in old John O'Dreams

In this context, sleep may also be considered a metaphor for death, both as an eventual equalizer of all things, and for the allusion to a "crossing over," as in a river, a prevalent theme in Western spiritual beliefs.

The most popular arrangements are by English singer/songwriter Bill Caddick. Singers Gordon Bok, Christy Moore, Jean Redpath, Garnet Rogers and The Clancy Brothers with Robbie O'Connell also recorded versions. The enchanting arpeggiated melody is based on Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, "The Pathetique", and is thought to have originated in either a Russian or Italian folksong.

Lyrics

When midnight comes and people homeward tread [Alternate: When midnight comes good people homeward tread]

Seek now your blanket and your feather bed

Home comes the rover, his journey's over [Alternate: Home is the rover, his journey's over]

Yield up the night time to old John O' Dreams

Across the hill, the sun has gone astray

Tomorrow's cares are many dreams away

The stars are flying, your candle is dying [Alternate: The stars are flying, the wind is sighing]

Yield up the darkness to old John O' Dreams

Both man and master in the night are one

All things are equal when the day is done

The prince and the ploughman, the slave and the freeman

All find their comfort in old John O' Dreams

When sleep it comes the dreams come running clear [Alternate: Now lies you sleep the dreams come winging clear]

The hawks of morning cannot reach you here [Alternate: The hawks of morning cannot harm you here]

Sleep is a river, flows on forever

And for your boatman choose old John O' Dreams

When midnight comes and people homeward tread [Alternate: When midnight comes good people homeward tread]

Seek now your blanket and your feather bed

Home comes the rover, his journey's over [Alternate: Home is the rover, his journey's over]

Yield up the night time to old John O' Dreams

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