Samuel Barber, who become one of America's great writers of art songs, showed this talent early, writing songs when he was as young as seven years old. This one was composed when he was beginning his studies, at the precocious age of 14, at the brand-new Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. It is a lovely, quiet song in a traditional lullaby style, composed for soprano and organ, although there is a piano version. The text is by Alfred Noyes. It is a song that expresses the mother's love for her child. The text is set syllabically, while the accompaniment is in soft chords and delicate harmonies. Its first interpreter was Louise Homer, the great opera star who was Barber's aunt. It was not published until 1994.

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