# Help a dad-to-be out: identify songs about being a mom, having a son **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 10, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262 "2007-07-10T21:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/1 "2007-07-10T21:10:15Z")
Don’t know if I have announced to the SDMB that my SO and I are expecting a child in October. So for the anniversary this year I think I want to do a media thingy, consisting of a photo album and a CD of songs for mom and baby. So far a few songs come to mind: “Our Day,” Split Enz: a soon-to-be dad discusses his hopes and fears about raising a son. I think this is my theme song. “Beautiful Boy,” John Lennon: self-explanatory, a love note from a parent to his kid. “I’m a Mother,” Pretenders: pretty in-your-face manifesto of how tough Chrissy is because she’s a mom. So I ask you, the collected brain trust of the SDMB, for suggestions for songs to include. If you can give a synopsis of what the song is about that would be helpful as well when I go to iTunes! ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/2 "2007-07-10T21:22:48Z")
Congratulations. 🙂 Songs . . . . Well, there’s _Havin’ My Baby_, but that’s a completely excrable song, of course. _Danny’s Song_ by Anne Murray is vintage Easy Listenin’, but I think a nice little song just the same (“People smile and tell me I’m the lucky one/We’ve just begun/Think I’m gonna have a son”). Elton John’s _The Greatest Discovery_ is pretty good, though it’s more about the birth of a second child. (“And all you ever learned from them/Until you grew much older/Could not compare to when they said/This is your brand new brother”). ---
**Author:** ![Most\_Creative\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Most\_Creative\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Most_Creative_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/3 "2007-07-10T21:44:01Z")
My Wish by Rascal Flatts comes to mind. Hopes and dreams for your kid. [My Wish Lyrics](http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Rascal-Flatts/My-Wish.html) I Hope you Dance by Lee Ann Womack is another one [I hope you dance lyrics](http://www.lyrics007.com/Lee%20Ann%20Womack%20Lyrics/I%20Hope%20You%20Dance%20Lyrics.html) Watching you by Rodney Atkins, is more of a song about a dad and son. [Watching You Lyrics](http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rodney-atkins-lyrics/watching-you-lyrics.html) All of the songs are country. It sounds like a great gift!! Have fun making it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/4 "2007-07-10T21:52:50Z")
Not quite on track, but can I suggest Handel’s aria, “My Heart is Inditing” and the follow-on chorus, “Kings and Queens shall be thy nursing mothers”? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/5 "2007-07-10T21:53:56Z")
Another schmaltzy classic is the old Bobby Goldsboro hit [Watching Scotty Grow](http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/w/watchingscottygrow.shtml) (written by Mac Davis). And then there’s [Little Man](http://www.lyricsdir.com/tom-waits-little-man-lyrics.html) by Tom Waits. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/6 "2007-07-10T21:55:14Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] _Danny’s Song_ by Anne Murray is vintage Easy Listenin’, but I think a nice little song just the same (“People smile and tell me I’m the lucky one/We’ve just begun/Think I’m gonna have a son”). [/QUOTE] That’s the one I thought of, and there are versions by Kenny Loggins and Lonestar if that’s any better for you. 🙂 This isn’t an obvious one, but Richard Shindell’s [Spring](http://www.richardshindell.com/index.php?page=songs&display=102) seems to be about a new baby coming. And it just sounds nice. I had friends expecting a baby in June so this song was perfect. Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/7 "2007-07-11T02:13:49Z")
I am ashamed to admit that the first thing that popped into my head upon reading the OP was _Havin’ My Baby_, and the second thing that popped into my head was _Watching Scotty Grow_. Both of which I loathe. And now I can’t get the mixture out of my head. Which renders all attempts to think of decent music for the occasion futile. Curse you, **Hippy Hollow**! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/8 "2007-07-11T03:30:23Z")
Well, I know this song is from a dad’s point of view, but I love it [Just the Two of Us](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/w/will+smith/just+the+two+of+us_20146944.html) by Will Smith. It came out around the time my son was born and always makes me teary when I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/9 "2007-07-11T11:06:20Z")
This one is rather evil if you know the context but - “Look at my baby and me” from the musical Chicago (I used to sing this to my kids all the time when they were tiny. I expect that probably says something about me…) Also slightly out of left field (but not evil) - “Let’s Stick Together” - Bryan Ferry ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/10 "2007-07-11T11:54:39Z")
[QUOTE=Rhiannon8404] Well, I know this song is from a dad’s point of view, but I love it [Just the Two of Us](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/w/will+smith/just+the+two+of+us_20146944.html) by Will Smith. It came out around the time my son was born and always makes me teary when I hear it. [/QUOTE] Great choice! ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/11 "2007-07-11T13:56:32Z")
Forever young - Rod Stewart. I think everyone knows this one. It’s about hopes and dreams for a child. Lets have a baby - Prince. About not wanting to delay having a child any longer and wondering what it will look like etc. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/12 "2007-07-11T14:02:55Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] That’s the one I thought of, and there are versions by Kenny Loggins and Lonestar if that’s any better for you. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Loggins wrote the song. His version is best. Though I absolutely detest the song, some people like Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Soliloquy” from **Carousel**. I find it maudlin, cliched, and ultimately pretty appalling, but it does try to cover a father’s emotions about the birth of a child. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/13 "2007-07-11T14:14:21Z")
Creed’s “Arms wide open” “I just love you” 5-4 fighting ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/14 "2007-07-11T14:17:56Z")
Great suggestions, people! Keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/15 "2007-07-11T14:24:00Z")
Art Garfunkel sings a song called “The Things We’ve Handed Down.” It’s more about not knowing how a baby will turn out (including its sex), so it’s not a perfect fit, but I love it. Marc Cohn has a version, too (his was first; he wrote the song) but I haven’t heard it. Carly Simon wrote a song to her children called “Love of my Life.” It’s not necessarily about parenting, but every since etoys (remember them?) used Israel Kamakawiwaole’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” medley for their ads, I always associate that song with little children. Now I want one of your CDs. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/16 "2007-07-11T14:24:15Z")
Say, how about the Schoolhouse Rock classic [Three Is a Magic Number, as performed by Blind Melon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPzAjiLr5Zw) (video link): \*A man and a woman had a little baby (Yes they did) There were threeeeeee In the family And that’s a magic number\* ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/17 "2007-07-11T14:39:33Z")
'Somewhere over the rainbow," by Kamakawiwaole makes me cry. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/18 "2007-07-11T14:39:37Z")
“Forever Young” by Bob Dylan. Also covered by The Pretenders and probably lots of other people. Dylan wrote it for his son. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/19 "2007-07-11T14:50:45Z")
Here’s a few more: “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” - Stevie Wonder “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” - Van Morrison “God Bless the Child” - Tony Bennett “God Only Knows” - Beach Boys “In My Life” - Beatles “Baby Mine” - Bette Midler ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262/20 "2007-07-11T15:03:57Z")
Celine Dion has a whole album called “Miracle” dedicated to her baby. The whole album is right on topic. The title track pretty much makes my wife a blubbering mess for the rest of the day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-a-dad-to-be-out-identify-songs-about-being-a-mom-having-a-son/411262.md?page=2)