In the Beginning

Thank you for being born. There's a story that's about to begin. It's about you and it's going to be a long one.

Many things await you, including things that will give you pleasure, things that will make you happy, things that will delight you, things that will make you laugh, and many, many other wonderful things!

All sorts of difficult things, too, will happen to you -- unpleasant things, sad things, things that will make you angry...

Because such things are what stories are made of.

You will also meet lots and lots of wonderful people, like friends and lovers, warmhearted teachers, and other people who love and care for you.

There might even be others, in the future, who dislike you; friends and lovers with whom you have fights and part company.

Because such things are what stories are made of.

You will learn all kinds of things, come across wonderful music, and be impressed and moved in many, many ways!

You will also worry and suffer from doubt in many, many ways, failing and finding that not everything will go your way.

That's because such things are what stories are made of.

The first line of the story is already written. It reads: "Here I am, dear world. I've made my debut." The rest is for you to tell, so start writing and keep writing!

Introduction: I Am Sleepy

I am Sleepy, the angel in charge of bringing sleep to Earth. When night falls, I sing lullabies from the sky and lure everyone to their slumbers. It is thanks to me that you all can sleep peacefully every night.

What's that? For a guy with my looks, you think I'm cheeky, do you? Sure, I may have an innocent-looking face, but know this: this year I turn 10,001 years old. So I'm much, much older than you.

I've become so busy lately that I now suffer from insomnia. In fact, this year I haven't slept a wink. With the rise in the population of Earth, I have to sing so many more lullabies, and besides, even during my occasional time off, I can't sleep because of the noise from all the wars and acts of terrorism that keep happening. Isn't it ironic? That the angel responsible for bringing sleep to everyone happens to be an insomniac? Please! Can someone help me get to sleep? I'd really like that.

This time around, I've decided to take a long vacation and travel round and round the planet Earth, listening to lullabies.

1. Hungary

I drifted for a time until I reached the skies over Hungary. There, I listened attentively, straining my ears. Hungary, found in central Europe, is steeped in history. Its capital, Budapest, in which the Danube flows through, is a favorite city of mine. Sometimes, when I look down from the sky, the surface of the river glitters in the moonlight. And when the city lights also glance across its shimmering surface, the sight turns so beautiful that it appears like a dream.

Several thousand years ago, back when I had just been dispatched to Earth, there were no city lights to be seen. After all, there was no such thing as electricity back then. But now, there are as many stars on the ground, if you will, as there are stars above in the night sky, creating such a commotion.

Hey, listen, listen! There it is! Can you hear? Someone's singing a lullaby! Angels have very good hearing, you know.

2. Ireland

If you fly a little to the west, there's Ireland. Seen from the sky, it's a truly beautiful island.

The greenery there never dies throughout the year, so it's called "The Emerald Island," you know.

Seen from the cosmic shore of stars in the universe, the Earth is really beautiful. No matter how long I look at it, I never get tired of the sight: a miraculous blue star, appearing out of nowhere, floating in the darkness of the void.

I want all of you, too, to have the chance to look down from here, and see what a beautiful star you live in.

Hey, there it is! The music of another lullaby.

3. China

China, a vast country of so many people. It's so huge I can't tell where it ends, even when I'm looking down from the sky. There are no lines drawn, after all.

I have no parents.

Angels are made by God, you see.

And that's why I'm envious of you all.

I keep wondering what a parent's selfless love is like.

Even it's just for one time, I sure would like to experience that.

There it is! The music of another lullaby.

...

The Lullaby Library
Established in 2014, the World Lullaby Association runs the "Lullaby Library," which archives lullabies submitted from all over the world. We welcome moving images, audio sources, lyrics, scores, and commentaries or contextual information on musical works. Please feel free to contribute to and participate in our global project.

http://library.lullabies-world.com/

天使斯丽匹的世界摇篮曲寻游记

【故事的序幕】
来到这个世界，心怀感激
从现在开始，你的人生旅途即将启程

快乐的事，幸福的事，高兴的事，可笑的事
许许多多的，精彩的事在等待着你吧

痛苦的事，不愉快的事，悲伤的事，令人生气的事
会发生许许多多的，各种各样的事吧

这就是故事

朋友和恋人，和蔼的老师对你关怀倍加
一生中遇见许许多多善良的人们

与朋友恋人因意见不合而分别
讨厌你的人也会相继出现

这就是故事

学习各种知识，偶遇好听的音乐
许许多多的事，令人感动

时而遇到挫折，所有的一切不会如愿以偿
人生亦有诸多烦恼

这就是故事

故事最初的一行，既已成文
[我来到这个世上了]
之后的内容，就由你来谱写

序 我叫斯丽匹
我叫斯丽匹，是掌管地球星上睡眠的天使。
当夜幕降临时，我在上空唱着摇篮曲，邀请大家进入梦乡。
你们每晚都能安然入睡，都是因为有我在哦。

看起来，我好像很骄傲的样子？
虽然我长着一张孩童的脸，但是今年我已经一万零一岁了。
比你们年长好多好多啦。

我最近非常地忙碌，得了失眠症。这一年里，没有好好地睡过一觉。
地球星上的人口急增，我必须不停地哼唱各种摇篮曲，
偶尔得到了休息的时间，战争和恐怖分子吵得我无法入睡。
听起来有点讽刺，为大家提供睡眠的我居然是失眠症患者。
好希望谁来帮助我进入梦乡。

这次，我得到了长假，周游了地球星，
决定聆听世界各地的摇篮曲。

1. 匈牙利
飘呀飘，我来到了匈牙利的上空聆听着。
这是个位于中欧有着历史的国度。
多瑙河沿岸的首都布达佩斯是我喜爱的城市。
从上空俯视河面，偶尔月光会倒映在水面上波光粼粼。
与两岸的街灯交相辉映，呈现一片梦幻的景象。

数千年前，我赴任来到地球星的时候，当时的街道一片漆黑。
因为还没有发明电灯吧。
如今，地上的星光数丝毫不逊色于夜空的繁星，热闹非凡。

瞧，能听见，能听见，那摇篮曲♪
天使的耳朵是很灵敏的哟。

2. 爱尔兰
稍稍往西方飞去，我来到了爱尔兰共和国。
从上空眺望，有一座非常美丽非常漂亮的绿色的岛屿。
一年四季，树木常青，因此被冠有[绿宝石之岛]的称号哦。

从宇宙的岸边眺望地球，真的非常美丽。
无论看多久，都不会厌倦。
这颗漂浮在宇宙黑暗里的奇迹的蓝色的星球。

希望大家都能来我这一次，俯视眼下的景色。
你们居住的星球是多么的美丽漂亮。

瞧，能听见，能听见，那摇篮曲♪

3. 中国
人好多，这里是中国。辽阔的土地，中国。
但是，我不知道究竟哪里才是边界呢。
从上空往下看，因为没有划线嘛。

我没有父母。
因为天使是上帝创造的。
所以，我很羡慕你们。
父母无私的爱，究竟是怎样的呢。
哪怕一次就好，我想体会一下。

瞧，能听见，能听见，那摇篮曲♪

----------

商品说明
内容简介
妈妈和宝宝，大家都幸福地入睡
本图册介绍了世界各国的摇篮曲并附CD一枚
在钢琴优雅的音色中，大人疲惫的身心得到放松，宝宝也能安然入睡。
收录了匈牙利，爱尔兰，中国，法国，巴西，泥泊尔和其他10国传统的广受人们欢迎的摇篮曲。

关于作者
[世界摇篮曲协会] 以守护世界各国的妈妈和孩子为主旨，为了保存渐渐失传的世界各国的摇篮曲，将它们流传下去而进行各种活动。作者为此协会的理事，艺术家。

正文:岡崎弘明(Okazaki Hiroaki)
熊本县出身，毕业于早稻田大学商学部，作家。

插图:中林MEGUMI(Nakabayashi Megumi)
出生于群马县前桥市，毕业于早稻田大学政治经济学部和SETSU流行研究会※，画家。
（※位于东京新宿区的美术学校，创办者为长泽节，毕业生多数活跃在插画，广告，出版界，时尚界，美术界等）

钢琴:本窪田NATSUKI(Motokubota Natsuki)
东京都出身，毕业于东京艺术大学音乐学部乐理科，音乐家，钢琴演奏家。