Now I lay me down to sleep is a classic children's prayer

Prayer

Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...

 from the 18th century. The version printed in The New England Primer

The New England Primer

The New England Primer was the first reading primer designed for the American Colonies. It became the most successful educational textbook published in 18th century America and it became the foundation of most schooling before the 1790s....

 goes:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

If I shall die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

The prayer features in Metallica's

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

 famous song 'Enter Sandman

Enter Sandman

"Enter Sandman" is a 1991 song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the first single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich...

', Megadeth's

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

 song 'Go to Hell

Go to Hell (song)

"Go to Hell" is a song by American heavy metal band Megadeth. It appears on the Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack released in 1991, and on Megadeth's rarities EP, Hidden Treasures, which was released in 1995. It begins with the same prayer used by Metallica in their song Enter Sandman which...

', rapper Seagram's song 'Peace To You', Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg

Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...

's 'Murder Was the Case', The Notorious B.I.G's (rapper) song Ready to Die, Phish's song, "Dog Stole Things", Green Jelly's

Green Jellÿ

Green Jellÿ is a Grammy-nominated American comedy rock band formed in 1981. Originally named Green Jellö, the band changed its name due to legal pressure from the owners of the Jell-O trademark, Kraft Foods, who claimed that it was an infringement of their trademark...

 song "Trippin' On XTC" , J. Cole's song "Rise & Shine" and also Kid Cudi's

Kid Cudi

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...

 song 'The Prayer". Variations of the prayer have also appeared in many other songs by various artists, including American artist Sophie B. Hawkins

Sophie B. Hawkins

Sophie Ballantine Hawkins is an American singer, songwriter, musician and painter. Her biggest hits are "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover", "Right Beside You", and "As I Lay Me Down".- Career :...

' As I Lay Me Down

As I Lay Me Down

"As I Lay Me Down" is a song composed and performed by singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins. It is from her album Whaler and also appears on The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins...

, the Finnish band HIM's song 'Buried Alive By Love

Buried Alive By Love

"Buried Alive By Love" is a song by Finnish band HIM, released in 2003. It is the first track and second single from the album Love Metal. The music video was directed by Bam Margera. Margera has also directed music videos for 3 other songs including, "The Sacrament", "Solitary Man" and "And Love...

', Aloe Blacc's song Take Me Back, Cheryl Cole's song Promise This and Tupac Shakur's

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...

 posthumous song, When Thugs Cry and OPM

OPM (band)

OPM is a Southern California based ska punk band. OPM has a distinctive sound, combining hip hop, rock music, and pop with laid-back reggae.-Band history:...

's song Heaven Is A Halfpipe. It is also featured in the Horror movie "The Haunting in Connecticut." and in the survival horror videogame Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo...

 and in the movie adaptation of this game franchise

Silent Hill (film)

Silent Hill is a 2006 horror film directed by Christophe Gans and written by Roger Avary. The story is an adaptation of the Silent Hill series of survival horror video games created by Konami. The film, particularly its emotional, religious and aesthetic content as well as its creature design,...

.
In 2000 the WWF showed vignettes of a returning Undertaker by showing three girls in white clothing playing along and laughing while singing parts of the Itsy Bitsy Spider

Itsy Bitsy Spider

"Itsy Bitsy Spider" is a popular nursery rhyme that describes the adventures of a spider as it ascends, descends and reascends the downspout or "waterspout" of a gutter system...

 and later on announcing his return by chanting a variation of the song. It later on became part of The Undertaker's titantron and merged with his then entrance theme American Bad Ass

American Bad Ass

"American Bad Ass" is a heavy metal song from American musician Kid Rock, released from his 2000 album The History of Rock. "American Bad Ass" uses the instrumental structure of Metallica's "Sad but True" The song was a victory lap for Devil Without a Cause's success...

 by Kid Rock

Kid Rock

Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...

Other versions

Thank you Lord for another day,

The chance to learn, the chance to play.

Now as I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Please, guard me, Jesus, through the night,

And keep me safe till morning's light.

But should I die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

And should I live for other days,

I pray that God will guide my ways.

Amen




Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

Lord, be with me through the night

And keep me 'til the morning light.






Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

If I should live for other days,

I pray the Lord to guide my ways.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

If I die before I wake,

I ask the Lord my soul to take.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

When in the morning light I wake,

Teach me the path of love to take.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray, Dear Lord, my soul to keep;

And if I die before I wake,

I pray, Dear Lord, my soul He'll take.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

Guard me Jesus through the night,

And wake me with the morning light.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

thy angels watch me through the night,

And keep me safe till morning's light.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

If I die before I wake,

Bless me Lord my soul to take.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

Keep me safe all through the night,

And wake me with the morning light.

AMEN




Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Angels watch me through the night,

And wake me with the morning light.

Amen





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;

Guide me safely through the night,

Wake me with the morning's light.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;

See me safely through the night,

And wake me with the morning's light.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep,

Guide me through the starry night,

Wake me when the sun shines bright,

For Jesus' sake. Amen.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

Guide us through the starry night,

and wake us with the morning's light.

I ask not for myself alone,

but for thy children—every one.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

may angels watch me through the night

and wake me with the morning light"





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.

May angels watch me through the night,

And keep me in their blessed sight.





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

Thank you for another day,

A chance to learn, a chance to play

Amen





Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

See me safely through the night,

And wake me with the morning light.

Amen




Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

May angels watch me through the night,

And keep me in their pleasant sight

Amen

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

God bless those who are so dear

And thank you lord for all good cheer

Amen

Now I lay me down to sleep

And pray the lord my soul to keep

And if I die before I wake

I pray my family attend my wake


Now I lay me down to sleep

fourteen angels watch do keep

watch above me lord I pray

through the night till break of day


Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

If I die before I wake,

I ask the Lord my soul to take.
And if I shall wake i thank the lord for another day

Amen