Lullaby
Silencing the Night: Embracing Peaceful Dreams with Loudon Wainwright III's Lullaby
Lyrics
Shut up and go to bed
Direct command to stop talking and go to bed.
Put the pillow under your head
Instruction to place the pillow under one's head, a common bedtime routine.
I'm sick and tired of all your worries
Expresses frustration with the person's constant worries or complaints.
Shut up and say goodnight
Reiterates the command to be quiet and bid goodnight.
Say your prayers and turn off the light
Encouragement to say prayers and turn off the light, typical bedtime activities.
I'm sick and tired of all your sob-stories
Continues frustration with the person's ongoing emotional narratives or stories.
Shut up and shut your eyes
Repetition of the command to be quiet and close one's eyes.
No more histrionics, no more college tries
Demands an end to dramatic actions or attempts (college tries).
Stop pushing, stop shoving, stop straining
Lists various behaviors to stop – pushing, shoving, and straining.
Shut your mouth and button your lip
Directs the person to stop talking and seal their mouth.
You're a late night faucet that's gotta drip
Metaphorically describes the person as a leaking faucet, continuously complaining.
All you're doing is merely complaining
Dismissive attitude towards the person's complaints, labeling them as mere complaints.
The excuse that you're crazy is useless
Rejects the excuse of being crazy, emphasizing it as useless.
You're not biting you're barking you're toothless
Contrasts biting (acting assertively) with barking (making noise) and emphasizes the person's lack of influence.
But you're ruthless (you're Rufus)
Plays on the word "ruthless," suggesting the person named Rufus might be relentless in complaining.
Shut up and count some sheep
Repeats the command to be quiet and suggests counting sheep as a sleep aid.
And do me a favor, don't bitch in your sleep
Asks the person not to complain even in their sleep.
No more agony, please no more sorrow
Pleads for an end to emotional distress and sorrow.
Shut up and catch some Zs
Commands the person to be quiet and fall asleep, using the colloquial term "catch some Zs."
Ice cream with a cherry plus a big pretty please
Suggests a pleasant bedtime treat (ice cream with a cherry) and adds a polite request ("pretty please").
I promise we'll resume tomorrow...Goodnight.
Promises a resumption of any unresolved matters the next day, bidding goodnight.
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