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).
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.
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.
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.
Liverpool Lullaby. 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.
Lullabye by Ben Folds Five - Lullabye lyrics by Ben Folds - original song full text. Official Lullabye lyrics, 2023 version | LyricsMode.com
Cradle Song by Shriekback - http://www.lyricstime.com/shriekback-cradle-song-lyrics.html
My wife would sing classics, and get nothing. In frustration, I would be handed the boys I would would croon Elvis and the Dead.
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.
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
There’s always Hush Little Baby, ad infinitum.
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.
Lullabye by Emitt Rhodes. Just a beautiful tune. I sung it to our daughter.
“We’re the best parents ever.”
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.
I sing “The Flower of Northumberland” sometimes. 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.
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.
child of mine, i’ve always liked that one. and it makes a great song to dance to at your child’s wedding.
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…”
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
My absolute favorite lullaby is You Can Close Your Eyes (live). A James Taylor and Joni Mitchell duet from back when they were young, beautiful and in luuurve.