Songs in the Key of Life - lyrics that reference birth?

February 20, 2015 10:13 AM

With the birth of our second child (a girl) imminent, my wife and I are looking for songs to listen to during labor. Can you recommend happy, upbeat songs that reference being born or could be interpreted that way, even if they aren't directly about it?

This previous question from 2009 was helpful when our son was born, but I figured that we could use some fresher input. Paul Simon's "Born at the right time" and Tally Hall's "Be Born" were fantastic suggestions from those answers.

We've thought of "Here Comes my Girl" by Tom Petty and "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks, in the category of not-about-birth-at-all but can be interpreted that way. We aren't looking for music that is meditative or soothing, just songs with lyrics about coming into the world.

posted by mbd1mbd1 to Grab Bag (33 answers total)

Lots of people have Bob Marley's, Three Little Birds on their labor playlists. It's a pretty perfect song for the occasion.

Mazel-Tov!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:17 AM on February 20, 2015

Closing Time
posted by metasarah at 10:22 AM on February 20, 2015 [4 favorites]

Best answer: apparently "closing time" is about being born.
posted by nadawi at 10:24 AM on February 20, 2015

Best answer: The one that made me laugh when I heard it on the labor playlist my husband made was "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross.
posted by lisa g at 10:37 AM on February 20, 2015 [11 favorites]

Best answer: My baby song was "Isn't She Lovely," from Songs in the Key of Life. It's kinda perfect for this.
posted by chatongriffes at 10:40 AM on February 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

And She Was
posted by Mchelly at 10:44 AM on February 20, 2015

I kind of liked (in addition to all the above suggestions) Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles, but I had all boys.
posted by gateau at 10:49 AM on February 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

My dad called the radio and asked them to play Blood, Sweat & Tear's version of God Bless The Child when my mom went in to labor - we used to have a cassette that they recorded off the radio of my dad asking and them playing it, and he sounds very young and excited, and so that song has always had a really lovely connection for me.
posted by ChuraChura at 10:50 AM on February 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

ELO's Mr. Blue Sky

The key lyrics:

Hey you with the pretty face,
Welcome to the human race
A celebration Mr. Blue Sky's
Up there waitin' and today
Is the day we've waited for
posted by VTX at 11:07 AM on February 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

Cloud Cult's You Were Born.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:10 AM on February 20, 2015

Best answer: Since this is your second child, if you and your wife have a sense of humor, I would recommend Paul and Storm's Better Version of You.
posted by bondcliff at 11:10 AM on February 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

My kid was born with the Rushmore soundtrack playing, and we all cracked up when Here Comes My Baby came on.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:26 AM on February 20, 2015

New Soul - Yael Naïm
First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
posted by rubster at 11:34 AM on February 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

All American Girl - Carrie Underwood
posted by rubster at 11:35 AM on February 20, 2015

More of using birth as a metaphor but still quite sweet: Bright Eyes' First Day of My Life

(on preview, got beaten to this, but hey here's the link if you want it)
posted by dismas at 11:50 AM on February 20, 2015

Best answer: Depends on how you interpret "water," I guess, but Daughter, sung in this video by Loudan Wainwright III.
posted by bricoleur at 11:52 AM on February 20, 2015

Born This Way by Lady Gaga, maybe?
posted by danielle the bee at 12:08 PM on February 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Gracie by Ben Folds!
posted by alon at 12:39 PM on February 20, 2015

Born to Hum - Erin McKeown
Sweet Darlin' - She & Him
Hey - Pixies
Respect - Biggie
If I Were a Carpenter - Cash/Carter
Push It - Salt n Pepa
Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman
Can't Keep It In - Cat Stevens
posted by melissasaurus at 1:48 PM on February 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Weird: I was just listening to San Bernardino in the car and thinking, "If anyone ever asks me what song should go on a playlist about giving birth, this would be perfect."
posted by sleepingcbw at 2:07 PM on February 20, 2015

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine is about becoming a father and making a family. My favorite version:

Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt

Oh god I can't type any more my eyes are watering...
posted by cda at 3:15 PM on February 20, 2015

Barenaked Ladies, "When You Dream"
posted by Rock Steady at 4:03 PM on February 20, 2015

It's not upbeat, but Bry Webb (of the Constantines) has a lovely little song called "Asa" about his son.
posted by synecdoche at 4:33 PM on February 20, 2015

"Welcome to the World," by Toni Childs comes to mind.

I had forgotten about this album (The Woman's Boat) for something like 15 years.
posted by baseballpajamas at 4:56 PM on February 20, 2015

Landing Gear by Ani DiFranco. Lyrics here: https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tllmuv2r2flck6c552jlr5ebnay?lyrics=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=lyrics&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics
posted by Hopeful and Cynical at 6:57 PM on February 20, 2015

Geggy Tah - Welcome Into The World (Birthday Song)
posted by ZabeLeeZoo at 7:49 PM on February 20, 2015

Travis : my Eyes
Michael Buble: I just haven't met you yet
Knaan : waving flag
Congrats!!
posted by leslievictoria at 7:54 PM on February 20, 2015

It's not exactly upbeat but its comforting if that could fit the bill. Hymn to Her by the Pretenders.
posted by oceanview at 9:41 PM on February 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

Built to Spill, "Cleo"
Titus Andronicus, "My Time Outside the Womb"
posted by stuck on an island at 2:49 PM on February 21, 2015

Nthing "Isn't She Lovely".
posted by getawaysticks at 1:17 PM on February 23, 2015

My parents tell me that "Danny's Song" by Kenny Loggins came on the radio as I was being born. "Think I'm gonna have a son..."
posted by jeffjon at 1:33 PM on February 23, 2015

Hey Rosetta!'s Welcome was written for one of the band member's newborn. A little angsty in places, but overall joyous and optimistic. Much like parenting, I would imagine.
posted by peppermind at 4:22 PM on February 23, 2015

I always think of labor when I hear Ring of Fire.
posted by terooot at 9:37 PM on February 23, 2015