Love Me, I Love You Lyrics
A short lullaby with a built-in permission: sing it high, sing it low, sing it however you can. The baby is held in a mother's arms, with her eyes looking down, and the first line comes back as the last.
Love Me, I Love You
Love me, - I love you,
Love me, my baby;
Sing it high, sing it low,
Sing it as may be.
Mother's arms under you,
Her eyes above you;
Sing it high, sing it low,
Love me, - I love you.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/love-me-i-love-you/
- Type
- Lullabies, Poems for Children, Rhymes for Babies
- Written by
- Christina Rossetti
- Tune
- Soft and rocking, rising on 'high' and dropping on 'low'
- Best for ages
- 0 to 3 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Sing it high, sing it low, | Raise your hand as your voice goes up, then lower it as your voice goes down. |
| Mother's arms under you, | Cradle your arms and rock from side to side. |
What Does Love Me, I Love You Mean?
The poem is a lullaby about lullabies. It says what matters is not how the song sounds but that it is sung: sing it high, sing it low, sing it as may be, which means sing it however you can manage. Any parent who thinks they cannot sing can take that as an invitation.
The second verse puts the baby in a picture. Mother's arms under you is the baby being held, and her eyes above you is the face looking down. The first line returns as the last, so the poem ends where it began, which is how a lullaby works as it winds down. It has only eight lines, which makes it easy to learn by heart and sing in a whisper at the edge of sleep.
History and Origin
Christina Rossetti's Sing-Song, subtitled A Nursery Rhyme Book, first came out in 1872, and this poem is one of its lullabies.
Learning Activities
- Pitch play: sing the first line high and the second low, and ask the child to join in on whichever they like.
- Rock and hum: hold a baby or a doll and hum the tune, slowing down on the last line.
- Your own tune: since any tune works, make one up and use it every night so it becomes the family's lullaby.
- Whisper round: say the poem softer each time through, until the last time is nearly silent.