# Parents! Songs to sing your kids to sleep with? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569 "2002-10-09T18:48:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/41 "2002-10-11T15:56:20Z")
I have no children of my own, to my eternal regret, but my sister had her first baby when I was eight so I sort of grew up “babysitting” and these are the songs I sang to all the various darlings in my life. “Hush-A-Bye” by Peter Paul and Mary “Puff The Magic Dragon” PPM “Loch Lomand” “Danny Boy” “Don’t Worry Baby” by The Beach Boys And for the current crop of darlings, I also sing these newer songs. “Child of Mine” Carole King “Baby Mine” Bette Midler (I think) “I Hope You Dance” Leeanne Womack “You’ll Be In My Heart” (mentioned by Degrance, the one from the Tarzan movie) There are also two I sing from “The Lion King” movie…can’t remember the names right now, but both were also written by Elton John. Actually, any song you know the words to works so long as you sing it softly and…what **Degrance** said. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/42 "2002-10-11T20:29:23Z")
The first time I was called upon to sing my daughter to sleep, the first lullaby that came to mind was “Lullaby of Broadway”, from the Busby Berkeley movie **Golddiggers of 1935**. And thus a tradition was born. \*C’mon along and listen to The lullaby of broadway The hip hooray and ballyhoo The lullaby of broadway … When a Broadway baby says goodnight It’s early in the mornin’ Manhattan babies don’t sleep tight Until the dawn Good night, baby, good night Let’s call it a day Sleep tight, baby, sleep tight The milkman’s on his way. \* But I was never asked to tap dance while singing it. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/43 "2002-10-11T20:36:08Z")
Although I don’t have kids of my own, I cleary remember my mom rocking us to sleep humming the Candian national anthem. She was a huge hockey fan. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bibliophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophile)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/44 "2002-10-11T20:36:14Z")
Although I don’t have kids of my own, I clearly remember my mom rocking us to sleep humming the Candian national anthem. She was a huge hockey fan. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/45 "2002-10-11T20:47:27Z")
The one song I recall singing the most was “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. I also sang Beatles tunes, and lots of Eagles. Everyone has told you great advice—it’s not the song so much as the vibrations and the rhythmic rocking. And being close to daddy or mommy… ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/46 "2002-10-12T02:13:26Z")
Well, when my Sister was a baby, my Mom would put on a tape of U.S. Marine Corps cadences. It always worked like a charm. Eventually, we even started putting the tape in a Teddy Ruxpin. (Anyone remember him?) So occasionally you’d see my little sister, dozing away with a smile on her face, while a cute robotic teddy bear sang in the background… “I wanna be a Drill Instructor, I wanna wear my Smokey Bear” “I wanna be a Drill Instructor, I’m gonna cut off all of my hair” [Here’s](http://web.archive.org/web/20011127074432/http://www.marinecorps.com/Cadences) a page of sample lyrics. Though I don’t know how easy it’d be to find a recording of them in the Czech Republic. Ranchoth (“Lo righty left!”) ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/47 "2002-10-12T14:59:44Z")
Being a huge disney fan,the words to the song from “Tarzan” are as follows: Come stop your cryin’,it’ll be alright Just take my hand,hold it tight I will protect you from all around you I will be here don’t you cry You’ll be in my heart,no matter what they say You’ll be here in my heart,always Always… WHen I used to babysit kids,I found that “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin was one that usually put them to sleep. That or “Baby Mine” from “Dumbo” Baby mine,dry your eyes Baby mine,don’t you cry Let those eyes sparkle and shine Never a tear,baby of mine Little one,when you play Don’t you mind what they say Let those eyes sparkle and shine Never a tear,baby of mine If they knew sweet little you They’d end up lovin’ you too All those same people who scolded you What they’d give just for the right to hold you From your head down to your toes You’re not much,goodness knows But you’re so precious to me Sweet as can be,baby of mine With my little sister,“A dream is a wish your heart makes” from "Cinderella’ also seemed to do the trick A dream is a wish your heart makes,when you’re fast asleep In dreams you will lose your heartache,whatever you wish for you keep Have faith in your dreams and someday,your rainbow will come smiling through Don’t let your heart be filled with sorrow,for all you know tomorrow the dream that you wished will come true A dream is a wish your heart makes,when you’re feeling small Alone in the night you whisper,thinking no-one can hear you at all You wake with the morning sunlight,to find fortune has smiled on you No matter how your heart is grieving,if you keep on believing,the dream that you wished will come true ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/48 "2002-10-12T23:18:17Z")
my father sang us 3 songs… Last train to San Fernando (if you miss this one, there’ll never be another one bid i bid i bum bum to San Fernando) Patsy Fagin “Hello Patsy Fagin, you’re the apple of my eye Hello Patsy Fagin, you can hear the girls all cry, you’re a daycent boy from ireland, that no-one can deny you’re a harum scarum divil me carum daycent irish boy” My brother Silveste “oh, my brother Silveste (what’s he got) a row of 40 medals on his chest (big chest) takes all the army and the navy to blow the wind from Silveste” repeat ad infinitum which were about as random as it gets. my mother, on the other hand sang “Abide with me” and “where have all the flowers gone” i suggest somewhere in the middle, although dad’s one’s made us laugh and have botty-tapping possibilities as far as rythm goes! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/49 "2002-10-22T20:30:41Z")
“Hey Man, Nice Shot” by Filter works best if one parent ‘air’ guitars (with appropriate music noises) while the other screams out the lyrics. Both have to thrash around a lot. puts my kids to sleep without any Kafka dreams 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/50 "2002-10-22T21:18:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t laugh. > I sung christmas carols, Walking in a Winter Wonderland most often. (Still do sometimes when she’s feeling really tired and isn’t convinced she needs to go to sleep) I won’t laugh, **mornea** , because I have spent every night for the last three years of my life singing Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland to my son, who is now 5. It’s the leadoff in a group of songs distilled from my vast repertoire of mostly showtunes! LOL But every night, it’s the same thing, \*Sleigh bells ring, are ya listenin’ … \* The other must-haves are as follows: - Eidleweiss from The Sound of Music; - My Old Kentucky Home (which logically follows the nationalism of Eidelweiss, at least to a sleepy singing mama); - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (optional with son, a must-have for daughter); and finally - Surry with the Fringe on Top from Oklahoma. It’s got a great perky start but ends up slow and lullabye-like. It’s a good thing I like these songs since I’ve sung them thousands and thousands of times! ---
**Author:** ![Roadwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@Roadwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadwalker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/51 "2002-10-23T00:58:49Z")
Another vote for Blackbird. I also sing Why Worry, by Dire Straits and The Lion Sleeps tonight. Congratulations on your new child. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/52 "2002-10-23T01:38:01Z")
I used to sing ‘Silent Night’ and The Butthole Surfer’s ‘The Wooden Song’ to a friend’s babies to make them fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![Giselle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Giselle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giselle)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/53 "2002-10-25T02:24:44Z")
Here’s another vote for “Blackbird.” I’m just sixteen, so I don’t have children quite yet [and for that i am thankful] but when I babysit and have to put the kids to bed I generally sing folk songs. One of my favourites is “The Water is Wide,” especially the third verse – > [@](#): > > _A ship there is, and she sails the sea > She’s loaded deep as deep can be > But not so deep as the love I’m in > I know not if I sink or swim_ – and I’m also quite partial to the finale from **Les Miserables** – > [@](#): > > _Take my hand, I’ll lead you to salvation > Take my love, for love is everlasting > And remember, the truth that once was spoken – > To love another person is to see the face of God_ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/54 "2002-10-25T05:24:09Z")
I don’t have kids, but when the boxmen at the Horseshoe annoy me, I put them under by singing Gypsy’s Evil Superconsciousness Lullabye from MST3K- Close your eyes, go to sleep, be absorbed by the collective Let the Evil Superconsciousness swallow you whole… You can give this one a pass if you live in Sunnydale, CA. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/55 "2002-10-25T15:33:48Z")
Favorites include Lavender’s blue Believe me if all those endearing young charms Away in a manger ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/56 "2002-10-25T16:39:47Z")
Another vote for **Silent Night**. If hummed while holding the child to your chest, I think the deep, sustained hums are soothing and help induce sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/57 "2002-10-25T16:46:15Z")
My kids enjoy “Edelweiss”, “Castle on a Cloud”, “Feed the Birds”(from Mary Poppins), “Some Enchanted Evening” and a few dozen others at bedtime. When we’re feeling rowdy they really enjoy “Allstar” by Smash Mouth. The baby, five months old, likes classical music and some showtunes. Seems to hate the Beatles though. Tried singing “Hey Jude” to her and she just about had a fit. Similar reaction to “Eleanor Rigby”. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![miamouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@miamouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miamouse)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/58 "2002-10-25T18:10:06Z")
Ditto for all the holiday songs. “The wheels on the bus”, “Brush your teeth”, “Elmo’s song” (although that last one really get annoying, I only do it by request) Also: There were ten in the bed, and the little one said, roll over, roll over So they all rolled over and one fell out, There were nine in the bed, and the little one said… (repeat counting down each verse to two) There were two in the bed, and the little one said, roll over, roll over So they all rolled over and one fell out, There was one in the bed, and the little one said GOODNIGHT! That one and some childhood hand game songs: Miss Mary Mack Miss Lucy Three Little Devils Usually while patting them on the heinie. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2002, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569/59 "2002-10-25T20:48:56Z")
We sing songs we made up, which are very repetitious, DoReMi and My Favorite Things from the Sound of Music, Frere Jacques (sp), Rock a Bye Baby, Frosty the Snowman (we call it Spongy the Penguin after one of his toys). If you forget words, lalalalala usually works just fine, especially if they’re really young. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-songs-to-sing-your-kids-to-sleep-with/131569.md?page=2)