Golden Dreams · Sogni d'oro

What to expect

It’s a warm evening in a small harbour on the Italian coast, and the last boat is in. Above it, a garden goes to sleep. There are lemon trees and basil, bees going home and flowers closing. Then warm shallow water holds you while you let go, and the stars come out.

A few Italian phrases come through it, to rest on as you fall asleep. You hear each one in English first:

• piano piano, slowly, slowly
• sei al sicuro, you are safe
• il dolce far niente, the sweetness of doing nothing

Nothing is a lesson, and nothing is tested. You don’t need to remember them.

The voice ends after about 27 minutes, on sogni d’oro, golden dreams. The music is gone four minutes before the end, and the sea goes on.

How to listen:

• In bed, with the volume low. Never while driving.
• Say the words in your mind, or softly, or just listen.
• There are long quiet stretches. Nothing has stopped. Come back on other nights.
• Headphones bring out the two low binaural tones, a slightly different tone in each ear. A speaker is fine too.

About

Safety and aftercare. You can turn over, move or stop at any point. This is a way to rest at the end of the day. It isn’t a treatment for any sleep difficulty.

Written by Lee and Lucas + Twins. Voice: Lee.

Transcript

Opening

The last boat is in.

Ropes creak against the posts.

The sea is still moving, but slower now.

Lie however the evening finds you.

You can turn, the way a boat turns on its rope.

Tonight some words come in Italian too.

Take them the way the harbour takes the boats.

One at a time, and no hurry.

Between them, only the water.

Part One: The garden closing

Above the harbour, a garden.

Lemon trees, and basil.

The air is warm with them.

Breathe in the lemon.

Breathe.

Respira.

Respira.

The sun is going down.

Bees go home over the basil.

One by one.

The flowers close for the night.

Slowly, slowly.

Piano piano.

Piano piano.

Far up the hill, bells.

Fainter now.

Then they are gone.

Every boat is in.

Every bee is home.

All is well.

Tutto va bene.

Tutto va bene.

Part Two: Held by the water

Below the garden, shallow water.

Calm, and warm from the day.

The last sun lies on it.

Lean back into the water.

It takes all your weight.

The water holds the weight.

You are safe.

Sei al sicuro.

Sei al sicuro.

Smooth your forehead, like the water.

Part your teeth a little.

Rest your head on the warmth.

Lower your shoulders into it.

Give your arms to the water.

Uncurl your fingers.

Lay your back along the surface.

Soften your belly.

Release your hips.

Loosen your knees.

Leave your feet to the water.

Nothing left to hold.

Let yourself go.

Lasciati andare.

Lasciati andare.

Nothing to do now.

The water does it all.

The sweetness of doing nothing.

Il dolce far niente.

Il dolce far niente.

Part Three: The stars come out

The sun is gone.

The water stays warm.

Overhead, the sky turns violet.

One star comes out.

Then another.

And then all of them.

The stars.

Le stelle.

Le stelle.

Low over the sea, two lights.

Side by side.

Held, under the stars.

Part Four: Finding the words

Now the words again, with a little quiet after each.

Find the word, if it comes.

Slowly, slowly.

Piano piano.

You are safe.

Sei al sicuro.

Let yourself go.

Lasciati andare.

The stars.

Le stelle.

Part Five: Only the Italian

Il dolce far niente.

Tutto va bene.

Sogni d’oro.