# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/21 "2009-09-25T17:44:37Z")
Another late-in-life dad! Belated congratulations! Because all of the hard rock/punk songs I’m familiar with were just too angry or fast (_I Wanna Be Sedated_ just doesn’t sound good slowed down to lullaby speed),I used to sing Irish pub songs to my son. He’s almost 6 now, and when he hears _The Wild Rover_ or \*The Parting Glass \*he gets this odd look of “…where have I heard this before?” on his face (and gets a wee bit sleepy). ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/22 "2009-09-25T17:45:22Z")
I would sing _Mockingbird_ to The Littlest Briston, but the first time I was singing it I soon realized that I didn’t know much of the song. After a few lines, it turned into an exercise in improv: _“And if that diamond ring don’t shine, daddy’s gonna buy you some…turpentine. And if that turpentine don’t…strip paint, daddy’s gonna buy you…ummm…a head retraint. And if that head retraint don’t immobilize, daddy’s gonna buy you a Nobel prize…”_ After awhile, it just became a personal challenge to see how long I could keep it going. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/23 "2009-09-25T17:47:46Z")
My Dad always used Joy to the World by Three Dog Night but my Mom made him change wine to orange juice since drinking was inappropriate for children. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/24 "2009-09-25T17:59:23Z")
I used the Star Wars theme plenty of times Kiera… Beautiful Kiera… Beautiful Kiera Beautiful girl… Maybe I could have worked on the lyrics a little, but it soothed her. On the flipside, I used Good Morning Starshine to wake her up. Good morning Kiera How are you today? Time for you to smile In your special way A few years ago when she saw the Simpsons where they sing that at the end, her face lit up in astonishment. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/25 "2009-09-25T18:06:44Z")
[Liverpool Lullaby](http://www.feniks.com/skb/music/lull12.html). Judy Collins does it on her great _In My Life_ album. _Oh, you are a mucky kid Dirty as a dustbin lid When he finds out the things you did You’ll get a belt from your Dad._ ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/26 "2009-09-25T18:26:58Z")
Lullabye by Ben Folds Five - [Lullabye lyrics by Ben Folds - original song full text. Official Lullabye lyrics, 2023 version | LyricsMode.com](http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/ben_folds_five/lullabye.html) Cradle Song by Shriekback - [http://www.lyricstime.com/shriekback-cradle-song-lyrics.html](http://www.lyricstime.com/shriekback-cradle-song-lyrics.html) ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/27 "2009-09-25T18:31:58Z")
My wife would sing classics, and get nothing. In frustration, I would be handed the boys I would would croon Elvis and the Dead. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/28 "2009-09-25T18:44:53Z")
> [@StaudtCJ](#): > > 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. The very first Simpsons, a short on Tracy Ullman, was exactly that. Marge is singing to Maggie who is imagining exactly what the lyrics are: Being stuck at the top of a tree, swaying in the wind, and falling – hard – to the ground. Marge finishes, says, “Sweet dreams, darling,” then snaps off the light, leaving just two eyes bugging in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/29 "2009-09-25T18:45:14Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > For the ones that go to sleep slowly, there’s **American Pie**. I always sang this one, because it goes on and on and on… I also used “I Will” by the Beatles, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and stuff by Paul Simon, mostly off of _There Goes Rhymin’ Simon_. And Christmas songs are always good in a pinch, when you’re so tired you can’t remember your name ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/30 "2009-09-25T18:56:41Z")
There’s always [Hush Little Baby](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=504373&highlight=Hush+baby), ad infinitum. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/31 "2009-09-25T19:08:01Z")
My husband always sang Box of Rain by the Dead and War Pigs by Black Sabbath to our son. I used to make up songs, such as Fresh Pants (sung to Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho from Snow White) and Spider in My Clubhouse, Man to him. He enjoyed all of these songs and found them soothing. The first song I ever sang to my first ever nephew was The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/32 "2009-09-25T19:10:03Z")
[Lullabye](http://www.amazon.com/Lullabye/dp/B002G5NX8I) by Emitt Rhodes. Just a beautiful tune. I sung it to our daughter. ---
**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, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/33 "2009-09-25T20:36:19Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Marge finishes, says, “Sweet dreams, darling,” then snaps off the light, leaving just two eyes bugging in the dark. “We’re the best parents ever.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/34 "2009-09-25T20:50:44Z")
I always sang popular/folk songs that doubled as lullabies. I sang “Go to Sleep Little Baby” from Oh Brother Where Art Thou. I sang “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. My 7 year old still asks me to sing what she calls “Dragontails”, which is actually “Godspeed” by the Dixie Chicks. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/35 "2009-09-25T21:37:42Z")
I sing “The Flower of Northumberland” sometimes. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni3CTxCblZA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni3CTxCblZA). Or “The Streets of Laredo” or “Tom Dooley”. Just about any tragic folk song makes a good lullaby. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/36 "2009-09-25T22:23:07Z")
I always did like the lullaby that Holly Hunter sang to Nathan Jr. in “Raising Arizona,” which I found out is called “The Willow Garden” or “Rose Conelly.” [Here’s a version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxlS1jQjqTI&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/37 "2009-09-25T22:32:48Z")
child of mine, i’ve always liked that one. and it makes a great song to dance to at your child’s wedding. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/38 "2009-09-26T01:30:46Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > _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. 😃 It’s an absolutely gorgeous tune, though! I remember a long car trip during which my 14-month-old son would cry unless we were singing to him. So we sang, “This is the song that has no end…” ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/39 "2009-09-26T04:29:33Z")
To the tune of For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow, but much slower: Someday your gonna have children Someday your gonna have children Someday your gonna have children And they will keep you awake. And they will keep you awake And they will keep you awake And they will finally sleep ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478/40 "2009-09-26T05:13:33Z")
My absolute favorite lullaby is [You Can Close Your Eyes (live)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rabauXCtqxc&feature=related). A James Taylor and Joni Mitchell duet from back when they were young, beautiful and in luuurve. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unorthodox-lullabies/511478.md?page=3)