# Unorthodox lullabies. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478 "2009-09-25T04:01:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/1 "2009-09-25T04:01:43Z")
I am aged for a new father; my daughter is eight months and I’m creeping up on forty. Given how many years I had to prepare myself for being a daddy. I found myself ill-equipped in the lullaby department when the need arouse to bust ‘em out. The closest I got to tradition is the Bugs Bunny version of Brahms’. Instead, when baby needs soothing, I fall back on whatever happens to be rattling around in my head, so long as the tone is approximately sleepy soothy. This has led to some minor ironies. One favourite: _Over at the Frankenstein Place_, from _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_. Small irony given the themes of the movie. Also in the running, _Summertime_, from _Porgie and Bess_. Funny thing about this, the only lyrics that set in my memory were: Summertime, and the living is easy Fish are jumpin’ The grass is high Your daddy’s rich and your momma’s good lookin’… …and so I would improvise the rest in a variety of ways. Usually, “Good times are cookin’, in the summertime.” I was fishin’ this summer, and Nina Simone’s version came on the radio, and I listened intently to catch the lyrics that I had forgotten. :smack:, when it turned out to be “hush now baby, don’t you cry…” since the only time I sang this was when I was trying to get her to stop crying. I sometimes give her Hank Williams’ _I’m So Lonesome, I Could Cry_. She likes this, but the line “It’s 'cause he’s lost the will to live” makes me glad that she hasn’t got the whole language-acquisition thing down yet. Her number one, absolute, unquestionably favourite “lullaby,” though - it’s… …_In Heaven_ (The Radiator Lady Song,) from _Eraserhead_. I always fall back on this, and find that it’ll settle her right down. Sometimes, the repetition of it gets a bit much for me, and I’ll switch to something else… and then she’ll start crying until I switch back. It is her favourite soothing song. It _is_ a nice, soothing song. I can’t help but thinking that it’s a little weird, given the subject of _Eraserhead_. I’m not alone in this, right? Please tell me how you settle/d your baby down without the use of traditional baby songs. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/2 "2009-09-25T04:04:55Z")
I always tend to fall back on the Beatles’ songs: Blackbird, Across the Universe, Let it Be. Nice melodies and I can remember the words. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/3 "2009-09-25T04:08:43Z")
_Let it Be!_ – totally stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/4 "2009-09-25T04:47:26Z")
The first two verses and the chorus of Every Rose Has Its Thorn. Don’t ask me why but when he was born it was the ONLY song I could think of to sing to him (I was tired of Christmas carols which were all over the radio, it being Christmas day) and for some reason it stuck. I didn’t sing him lullabies often but at about 4 he started to ask for one from time to time before bed and that was, again, usually the song that popped into my head. So now when he asks for a lullaby I ask him what he wants and it’s always ‘the cowboy who sings a sad song’ and I can hear him singing softly along with me as I sing to him. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/5 "2009-09-25T05:19:57Z")
My favourite lullaby song has always been the Mammas and the Pappas “Dream a Little Dream of Me” \*Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you Sweet dreams that leave your worries behind you But in your dreams, whatever they be Dream a little dream of me \* A bit Oedipal may be, but I love that song. Winner of the “most innapropriate” contest - “Me and My Baby” from _Chicago_. (for those who don’t know the movie … “inappropriate” due to the fact that the baby of the song doesn’t actually exist, being a device to help the singer escape the noose after murdering her lover. Cool song though 🆒) But you know what we most often used to settle down our eldest daughter when she was a baby? Well, there’s a theory that you should play nice soothing music to your kids in the womb, and then when they’re born they’ll recognise and remember that, and it will help to calm and relax them. Bearing that in mind, I have absolutely NO idea why the background music to [Star Craft](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft) would have helped our daughter to sleep. Nope, none whatsoever… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/6 "2009-09-25T07:41:42Z")
Conan O’Brien takes this to an art form, singing disturbing lyrics to “sleepy soothy” music. But I’m sure most of y’all knew that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/7 "2009-09-25T08:17:14Z")
The best lullaby ever: [_Everything Possible._](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdQ1ivqcdmw) ---
**Author:** ![StaudtCJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@StaudtCJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StaudtCJ)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/8 "2009-09-25T08:17:28Z")
I relied on Peter, Paul, and Mary, and other folk singers. Puff, Lemon Tree, Blowin’ in the Wind, they are all great lullaby songs. In fact, most of those type of songs are good for lullaby stuff. A lot of the “real” lullabies out there are really creepy. “Rock-a-bye baby, in the TREETOP” and they talk about it falling? That’s mommy therapy, not a good lullaby. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/9 "2009-09-25T12:35:35Z")
When my daughter was a baby the only two songs I could sing that would calm her down were “You Don’t Own Me” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”. I have no idea why, it’s not like I listened to the oldies station when I was pregnant. My son was born in 1990 during my “headbanger” phase (hey, I was only 17) so he was treated to my horrible renditions of 80s powerhair ballads. We both got better. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/10 "2009-09-25T12:45:13Z")
I don’t have children, but I remember hearing a friend singing “House of the Rising Sun” to soothe her 3-month-old a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/11 "2009-09-25T12:53:21Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > My favourite lullaby song has always been the Mammas and the Pappas “Dream a Little Dream of Me” > > \*Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you > Sweet dreams that leave your worries behind you > But in your dreams, whatever they be > Dream a little dream of me > \* > > A bit Oedipal may be, but I love that song. I used that song as a lullaby _all_ the time, for all three of my babies. Also, John Denver’s “For Baby”: _I’ll walk in the rain by your side I’ll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand I’ll do anything to keep you satisfied And I’ll love you more than anybody can_ Another one I like to sing that they seemed to like to hear was “The Glory of Love” a la Bette Middler. Basically, any slow paced love song/folk song will work. Traditional lullabies are _not_ necessary. Your baby doesn’t know what is or is not traditional. They want to hear you sing (might as well do it while they still want to _hear_ it!), and your voice and the melody of the song soothes them. That’s the important thing. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/12 "2009-09-25T12:59:42Z")
When it came to my little cousin, I couldn’t think of any lyrics to songs to sing to her that were more than a verse or two. So I just started humming the rhythm guitar section to “Smoke on the Water” with an occasional chorus thrown in- and she seems to like it! Can’t really go wrong with that repetitive one, and you can just mix up the sounds and keep the rhythm just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/13 "2009-09-25T13:25:10Z")
U.S. Marine Corps Hymn. It is the only song I know all the lyrics to. She did fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/14 "2009-09-25T13:28:41Z")
_Skye Boat Song_. PiperCub especially seems to like the closing verses: Many’s the lad fought on that day Well the claymore could wield When the night came, silently lay Dead on Culloden’s field Burned are our homes, exile and death Scatter the loyal men Yet, e’er the sword cool in the sheath, Charlie will come again. Never too early to get him used to the “Return of the King” motif. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/15 "2009-09-25T13:33:12Z")
For the ones that go to sleep slowly, there’s **American Pie**. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/16 "2009-09-25T13:49:52Z")
[Tom Dooley](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoBLGE2cCdU), [Frog Went a Courtin’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QiuxyTW0kc) and [A Rovin’ Gambler](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JVeydJOhQU) always worked with my kids. ---
**Author:** ![Rib\_Eye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rib\_Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rib_Eye)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/17 "2009-09-25T14:30:11Z")
I too use Summertime. Also power ballads by 70s and 80s hard rock bands. The kids also really like Candle on the Water, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Into the West from The Return of the King. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/18 "2009-09-25T16:46:09Z")
_The Philosopher’s Drinking Song_, by Monty Python. It’s not so much a lullaby as it is a good distraction song during diaper changes. _Harvey the Wonder Hampster_ by Weird Al Yankovic is the same. However, for my little darling (now 16), bagpipes were a SURE lullaby. Put in a tape/CD of the Royal Highland Guard, and _poof_ she was out. Amazing. It explains a lot, though… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/19 "2009-09-25T17:07:17Z")
When I was little, I stole a popular lullaby and… improved it: _Go to sleep You little creep I’ll buy you a jeep That goes beep-beep If you’ll only GO TO SLEEP!_ The opening lines came from another kid goofing around, but the whole exasperarted rest of it was mine. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/20 "2009-09-25T17:07:49Z")
I’m going to move this over to Cafe Society. Then go take a nap. twickster, MPSIMS moderator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478.md?page=2)