Danielpour’s opera, Margaret Garner, with a libretto by Toni Morrison is loosely based on a historical runaway slave of the same name. It was created as a co-commission of the Michigan Opera Theatre, the Cincinnati Opera, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Garner’s tragic story also formed the basis of Morrison’s 1987 novel, Beloved, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The opera had its premiere in Detroit in May 2005 with Denyce Graves cast in the title role. It has enjoyed several stagings since that time. “Margaret’s Lullaby” comes in the first of the opera’s two acts. It creates for the audience a deep feeling of sympathy for Margaret as she gently shows her love for her children.
Program Note by David B. Levy, ©2026
Original Text:
Sad things, far away
Soft things, come and play
Lovely baby
Sleep in the meadow,
Sleep in the hay
Baby’s got a dreamin’ on the way.
Bad things, far away
Pretty things, here to stay
Sweet baby, smile at me
Lovely baby, go to sleep
Sleep in the meadow,
Sleep in the hay
Baby’s gonna dream the night away.
Lovely baby, pretty baby
Baby’s gonna dream the night away.
Sleep in the meadow,
Sleep in the hay
Baby’s gonna dream…
Baby’s gonna dream…
Baby’s gonna dream….