The songs of Stephen Foster have an eternal beauty about them and this song is one of Foster’s finest. The words are emotive to the point of offering soothing consolation to a sleeping child. My own mother, Lizzie, always said that you can have a thousand fathers but only one mother! She was right in so many ways, for having worked as a Social Worker in Ireland in the area of Child welfare and support; I saw firsthand how a strong maternal influence can really impact on a child’s future development and life outcomes. Arranged by Ben Lewis who is also on piano; Steven Houser on Cello.