The Japanese Sandman

A night time lullaby from 1920
words by Raymond B. Egan
music by Richard A. Whiting


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by Halcyon Days Music:


Lyrics

  1. Won’t you stretch imagination
    For the moment and come with me
    Let us hasten to a nation
    Lying over the western sea
    Hide behind the cherry blossoms
    Here’s a sight that will please your eyes
    There’s a baby with a lady
    Of Japan singing lullabies
    Night winds breath her sighs

Chorus
Here’s the Japanese Sandman
Sneaking on with the dew
Just an old second hand man
He’ll buy your old day from you
He will take every sorrow
Of the day that is through
And he’ll give you tomorrow
Just to start a life anew
Then you’ll be a bit older
In the dawn when you wake
And you’ll be a bit bolder
With the new day you make
Here’s the Japanese Sandman
Trade him silver for gold
Just an old second hand man
Trading new days for old

  1. Just as silent as we came
    We’ll leave the land of the painted fan
    Wander lightly or you’ll wake
    The little people of old Japan
    May repose and pleasant dreaming
    Be their share while the hours are small
    Like an echo of the song
    I hear the Japanese Sandman call
    New days near for all

Sung here by Fred Feild: