# Earlier works, thematically similar to 'Castle on a Cloud' from Les Mis **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 17, 2024, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earlier-works-thematically-similar-to-castle-on-a-cloud-from-les-mis/1004374 "2024-07-17T11:05:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earlier-works-thematically-similar-to-castle-on-a-cloud-from-les-mis/1004374/1 "2024-07-17T11:05:16Z")
When I was a small child (early 1970s), my mum used to sing to me at times. The other day I attended a choral concert where one of the numbers was _Castle on a Cloud_ from _Les Misérables_ - it gave me strong déjà vu for one of my mother’s songs - specifically something she would sing if I was unhappy or hurt. Except it can’t have been that specific song, because it wasn’t written until 1980. So I am looking for a song that is thematically similar; it may be specifically a folk song from the north of England (where my mother grew up), or something else; thematic similarities to the _Les Mis_ song (to the best of my recollection): - It was melodic and lullaby-like and slightly melancholy - It described a place that was a respite from the world - There were details of the pleasantness of the place and the things one might see or find there, but I can’t remember any specific detail I don’t think it necessarily described a dream-world, possibly more of bright and hopeful future; it might even have been a children’s hymn of some sort - given the sort of promise of heavenly respite and happiness that it described, but if so, it wasn’t at all sermon-like. It wasn’t _There is a green hill far away_ - it had more descriptions of a place in it. That’s all I can think of. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earlier-works-thematically-similar-to-castle-on-a-cloud-from-les-mis/1004374/2 "2024-07-17T12:22:10Z")
Not a perfect fit, since it’s not a place, but my first thought is [“Hush little baby”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush,_Little_Baby). It’s a melodic lullaby used to comfort a child, with the promise of various gifts. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earlier-works-thematically-similar-to-castle-on-a-cloud-from-les-mis/1004374/3 "2024-07-17T12:36:44Z")
It’s a good call, but I don’t think the song was as upbeat as that ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earlier-works-thematically-similar-to-castle-on-a-cloud-from-les-mis/1004374/4 "2024-07-17T13:59:43Z")
The Welsh folk song [The Ash Grove](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCecCsW3Rsw) has lots of different lyric versions. My mum, from Yorkshire, used to sing it when I was a child. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earlier-works-thematically-similar-to-castle-on-a-cloud-from-les-mis/1004374/5 "2024-07-17T17:54:38Z")
Oh, I think it might be that! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earlier-works-thematically-similar-to-castle-on-a-cloud-from-les-mis/1004374/6 "2024-07-19T03:41:50Z")
“The Garden” by Andrew Marvell?