Good Morning, Merry Sunshine!

Up here in the Pacific Northwest, our days become very long as we approach the summer solstice. On that day the sun sets at 10:22pm. As the days grow longer and my two little ones have a harder time falling asleep at night, I have an equally hard time getting them up in the morning. I have often found myself singing the same song to help them rise with the sun, that my mother sang to me. It goes like this:

(Child)
Good morning, merry sunshine

How did you wake so soon?

You've chased away the little stars

And shone away the moon!

I saw you go to sleep last night

Before I knelt to pray

How did you get way over there

And, pray, where did you stay?

(Sun)

I never go to sleep, dear child,

I'm shinning all the night

And as the world keeps turning 'round

It hides me from your sight.

But as it turns you back again

You'll find me waiting here

To shine a bright "good morning" down

On all the children dear!

There are several versions of this song. I tried to find an Mp3 version to attach, but found the sheet music instead. The version I have typed is the one that sounds most familiar to me. Although, growing up with my mother waking us with her singing wasn't pleasant at the time, I do remember it fondly.