shipped out for the last time, and he vowed to write a song about it when he got back, which he did. But Charlie's sweet, simple song wasn't pitched to publishers, and eventually it ended up in a shoebox, where it sat for 50 years.

But it so happened that the Clarks and Pilieros would become neighb

Last Sunday, Memorial Day, I was sitting in my living room getting ready to take my dogs for a walk, and for some reason, one of my favorite songs came to mind as I was tying my shoes. And I began to sing it to my dogs ...

"Nitey nite, now dream away;
Morning brings a bright new day.
Dream of your toys and games, dear ...
Put all your cares away, dear."

I first heard that song on A Prairie Home Companion, on the day of the "Talent from Towns Under 2,000" contest, in the year 2000.

Leilani Clark, a 12-year-old from Wellburn, Florida, population 1,621, sang a touching song written shortly after World War II by a veteran named Charlie Piliero.

The song tells the story of a young mother putting her little girl to bed, soothing her, encouraging her to look forward to brighter days when her daddy will come home from the war.

Here's Leiliani singing it. Just scroll down to where it says

38:40 Applause, GK Segue to Leilani Clark
41:00 Nitey Night

According to Leilani's website, Mr. Piliero remembered his own children's somber faces as he shipped out for the last time, and he vowed to write a song about it when he got back, which he did. But Charlie's sweet, simple song wasn't pitched to publishers, and eventually it ended up in a shoebox, where it sat for 50 years.

But it so happened that the Clarks and Pilieros would become neighbo

.
Dream of your toys and games, dear ...
Put all your cares away, dear."

I first heard that song on A Prairie Home Companion, on the day of the "Talent from Towns Under 2,000" contest, in the year 2000.

Leilani Clark, a 12-year-old from Wellburn, Florida, population 1,621, sang a touching song written shortly after World War II by a veteran named Charlie Piliero.

The song tells the story of a young mother putting her little girl to bed, soothing her, encouraging her to look forward to brighter days when her daddy will come home from the war.

Here's Leiliani singing it. Just scroll down to where it says

38:40 Applause, GK Segue to Leilani Clark
41:00 Nitey Night

According to Leilani's website, Mr. Piliero remembered his own children's somber faces as he shipped out for the last time, and he vowed to write a song about it when he got back, which he did. But Charlie's sweet, simple song wasn't pitched to publishers, and eventually it ended up in a shoebox, where it sat for 50 years.

But it so happened that the Clarks and Pilieros would become neighb

621, sang a touching song written shortly after World War II by a veteran named Charlie Piliero.

The song tells the story of a young mother putting her little girl to bed, soothing her, encouraging her to look forward to brighter days when her daddy will come home from the war.

Here's Leiliani singing it. Just scroll down to where it says

38:40 Applause, GK Segue to Leilani Clark
41:00 Nitey Night

According to Leilani's website, Mr. Piliero remembered his own children's somber faces as he shipped out for the last time, and he vowed to write a song about it when he got back, which he did. But Charlie's sweet, simple song wasn't pitched to publishers, and eventually it ended up in a shoebox, where it sat for 50 years.

But it so happened that the Clarks and Pilieros would become neighb

singing it. Just scroll down to where it says

38:40 Applause, GK Segue to Leilani Clark
41:00 Nitey Night

According to Leilani's website, Mr. Piliero remembered his own children's somber faces as he shipped out for the last time, and he vowed to write a song about it when he got back, which he did. But Charlie's sweet, simple song wasn't pitched to publishers, and eventually it ended up in a shoebox, where it sat for 50 years.

But it so happened that the Clarks and Pilieros would become neighb

shipped out for the last time, and he vowed to write a song about it when he got back, which he did. But Charlie's sweet, simple song wasn't pitched to publishers, and eventually it ended up in a shoebox, where it sat for 50 years.

But it so happened that the Clarks and Pilieros would become neighbors and the shoebox in the attic would come down, and the song would be discovered by little Leilani.

With her beautiful, angelic voice, Leilani hit the perfect chord of interpretation, sounding to me like a young, doting mother in an old Disney film. For a 12-year-old to find that place was amazing to me.

The crowd in the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul burst into applause and cheers when she finished, and it was no surprise when she was declared the winner of the popular-vote contest.

At home, tears were streaming down my face, I was so moved. I immediately searched the Internet for her name, and found a website devoted to Leilani and her first CD. I wrote to the Clarks and obtained Mr. Piliero's email address, and asked for his permission to sing the song myself when I sang at the local senior center and nursing homes occasionally.

Charlie replied within a day or two, and he happily allowed me to sing the song. He was quite a character -- very feisty! And he was very pleased that his little song was getting exposure.

Now, several years later -- Memorial Day 2007 -- as I'm getting ready to walk my dogs while singing "Nitey Nite," I thought, "Gee, my dad would really