Something You May Not Know About the Most Famous Lullaby

I sang Brahms’ Lullaby, often called The Cradle Song, to lull my babies to sleep.

When my second child was just a few months old, I’d only get a few bars out before her eyes gently closed as she took over and hummed herself to sleep.

Labeled as the lullaby with the most calming effect, I recently discovered its secret ingredient.

This famous lullaby began as a German love song Brahms heard as his childhood crush, Bertha Faber, hummed it as they strolled through the park.

Although it became ‘their song’, Bertha eventually married and had a child with someone else.

That sneaky Brahms hid the tune as a counter-melody in his gift of the lullaby to her newborn.

There’s no doubt that Bertha recognized it every time she lulled her baby to sleep with it, though I doubt she disclosed that to her husband.

The lullaby still works its magic whether it’s sung, played on an instrument or hummed.

Its back story is amazing, but more so is what we discovered when my daughter began piano lessons at three years old.

As soon as she mastered the keyboard, she could play by ear any song she heard once.

Even though my mother could play by ear also, I didn’t make the connection between my daughter humming herself to sleep, Brahms' Lullaby, my daughter’s musical ability, and my mother’s talent until just now as I’m sharing this.

I certainly didn’t know the backstory of this world-famous lullaby and its magical qualities.

Sometimes our earliest moments hold the biggest clues—don’t skip ‘em.

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Did you, one of your children, or young loved ones have talent that was foreshadowed at an early age?

That’s a memory to add to your life story.