Starlight, starbright --- it's origin, it's entirety

Posted by Henry on July 02, 2003

In Reply to: Starlight, starbright --- it's origin, it's entirety posted by masakim on July 01, 2003

: : : did this begin as a child's bedtime prayer? what is it's
: : : origin? where can I find it in it's entirety? thank you.

: : "Star light, Star bright,
: : the first star I see tonight,
: : I wish I may, I wish I might,
: : have the wish I wish tonight."
: : -- Author Unknown

: Or:
: I see specks, specks see me,
: I'll see somebody tomorrow
: I don't expect to see.
: Star light, star bright,
: Very first star I see tonight,
: Tell me, tell me, all I wish to know.
: Does the one that I adore
: Love me less or love me more?
: Star light, star bright, tell me, is it so?
: From _The Annotated Mother Goose_ by Wm. S. Baring-Gould & Cecil Baring-Gould

That is the Devon minister the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould. What a wonderful name! He published his Book of Nursery Songs and Rhymes in 1895.
The phrase was echoed by Joni Mitchell in 1971 in This Flight Tonight on her album Blue;

Oh starlight, star bright
You got the loving that I like alright
Turn this crazy bird around
I shouldn't have got on this flight tonight.

• This Flight Tonight Lewis 07/03/03