Rock-a-bye little one
March 20, 2018 9:47 AM Subscribe
We found out on this valentine's day that we got a wee little guy on the way (yay and omg) and since finding out I've had this growing urge to sing a lot to him/her (!even dug out the guitar) – which is cool and a little surprising and ...I've found that i really don't know many remotely lullaby-ey or baby-soothing songs...so this is where you guys could help? any ideas?
I mined all my lullabies from Vic Chesnutt albums.
posted by adiabatic at 9:55 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by adiabatic at 9:55 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the Wizard of Oz movie
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:56 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:56 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
I feel like you would find a lot of such songs from the back catalogue of both the folkie Stevens'es (Cat and Sufjan).
I also asked my own "lull me to sleep" AskMe some years ago and got a crap-ton of fantastic results, and the playlist I ultimately compiled worked so well I named it "Auditory Ambien". The whole thread is here, and I say that if it can put a grownup to sleep it'll go double for a kid.
I also have this album which is quite lovely, and has an especially pretty version of the Welsh song "Suo Gan".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:00 AM on March 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
I also asked my own "lull me to sleep" AskMe some years ago and got a crap-ton of fantastic results, and the playlist I ultimately compiled worked so well I named it "Auditory Ambien". The whole thread is here, and I say that if it can put a grownup to sleep it'll go double for a kid.
I also have this album which is quite lovely, and has an especially pretty version of the Welsh song "Suo Gan".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:00 AM on March 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
Lots of songs can serve as lullabyes if sung slowly and softly. Some of the rotation at our house:
Ben Folds Five - Lullabye
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark (at least while they're too young to understand death...)
Semisonic - Closing Time
Fleetwood Mac - Landslide
Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends
Simon and Garfunkel - The Sounds of Silence
The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines
posted by chrisamiller at 10:03 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ben Folds Five - Lullabye
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Follow You Into The Dark (at least while they're too young to understand death...)
Semisonic - Closing Time
Fleetwood Mac - Landslide
Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends
Simon and Garfunkel - The Sounds of Silence
The Black Keys - Little Black Submarines
posted by chrisamiller at 10:03 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Congrats! My husband sings Townes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You" to our son and it melts my heart.
posted by CiaoMela at 10:27 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by CiaoMela at 10:27 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
I made a MeFi Mix back in the day called Hip Songs for Sleepy Babies and this is what was on it.
Book of Love by Magnetic Fields
One More Goodnight Kiss by Greg Brown
All Right for Now by Tom Petty
Lullaby by Jack Johnson
#3 by Ben Harper & Co.
Say a Little Prayer by Shawn Colvin
Midnight Moonlight by the Be Good Tanyas
Song of Sand by Suzanne Vega
Makambo by Geoffrey Oryema
Kokoba by Mahaleo
The Kiss by Wayne Horvitz
I'm a Fool by Wayne Horvitz
Bwana Toshi by Arthur Lyman
Stellar Lullabye by SF Seals
Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key by Billy Bragg/Wilco
Something by Phish, I don't know what it is
We All, Us Three, Will Ride by Palace Music
I'll Always Remember You by Natalie McMaster
Gauley Bridge by Songs::Ohia
All the Pretty Li'l Horses by Shawn Colvin
Some environmental music with crickets and frogs
Might get some good ideas in this thread.
posted by jessamyn at 10:28 AM on March 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
Book of Love by Magnetic Fields
One More Goodnight Kiss by Greg Brown
All Right for Now by Tom Petty
Lullaby by Jack Johnson
#3 by Ben Harper & Co.
Say a Little Prayer by Shawn Colvin
Midnight Moonlight by the Be Good Tanyas
Song of Sand by Suzanne Vega
Makambo by Geoffrey Oryema
Kokoba by Mahaleo
The Kiss by Wayne Horvitz
I'm a Fool by Wayne Horvitz
Bwana Toshi by Arthur Lyman
Stellar Lullabye by SF Seals
Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key by Billy Bragg/Wilco
Something by Phish, I don't know what it is
We All, Us Three, Will Ride by Palace Music
I'll Always Remember You by Natalie McMaster
Gauley Bridge by Songs::Ohia
All the Pretty Li'l Horses by Shawn Colvin
Some environmental music with crickets and frogs
Might get some good ideas in this thread.
posted by jessamyn at 10:28 AM on March 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
Best answer: My favorite lullaby has been Jesus, Etc. by Wilco. (Although I skip the cigarette reference at the end.)
posted by statsgirl at 10:47 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by statsgirl at 10:47 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I started singing the Beatles song “I Will” to my babies in the womb, and now it puts them to sleep in one and a half minutes flat. Last night the playlist was “I Will”, “Landslide”, “You’ve Got a Friend” And I was going to finish with “Dream a Little Dream” But they were both snoring already.
Their little voices singing along with me before they could actually talk will always remain among my most precious memories.
posted by annathea at 10:48 AM on March 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
Their little voices singing along with me before they could actually talk will always remain among my most precious memories.
posted by annathea at 10:48 AM on March 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
Best answer: I used to sing "Sweet Baby James (or Jane)" to my little one. Very soothing for me and for baby.
posted by 6thsense at 10:53 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 6thsense at 10:53 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am a fan of non-traditional type soothing songs.
Don't Smoke In Bed - k.d. Lang
Hammond Song - The Roaches
I love you always forever - Betty Who
Losing True - The Roaches
More Than Words - Extreme
Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
Also, just look up acoustic playlists on spotify (or whatever). An acoustic/accapella version of Wonderwall (by Oasis) is the most relaxing, soothing, beautiful song I have ever heard.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:55 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Don't Smoke In Bed - k.d. Lang
Hammond Song - The Roaches
I love you always forever - Betty Who
Losing True - The Roaches
More Than Words - Extreme
Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
Also, just look up acoustic playlists on spotify (or whatever). An acoustic/accapella version of Wonderwall (by Oasis) is the most relaxing, soothing, beautiful song I have ever heard.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 10:55 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Tender Shepherd from Peter Pan
Summertime from Porgy & Bess One of these mornings You're going to rise up singing Then you'll spread your wings And you'll take to the sky. (from this lullaby ask.me)
Another ask.me
James Taylor You Can Close Your Eyes, as well as Sweet Baby James. Sarah Maria, too.
Paul McCartney, I Will
Hobo's Lullaby by Woody Guthrie, often sung by Arlo Guthrie, here by Emmylou Harris.
The Mockingbird Song - Hush Little Baby is a traditional lullaby, Peter Paul & Mary
Mazel tov on your sweet news. I have a grandbaby due in May, looking forward to singing *all* the lullabyes.
posted by theora55 at 11:09 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Summertime from Porgy & Bess One of these mornings You're going to rise up singing Then you'll spread your wings And you'll take to the sky. (from this lullaby ask.me)
Another ask.me
James Taylor You Can Close Your Eyes, as well as Sweet Baby James. Sarah Maria, too.
Paul McCartney, I Will
Hobo's Lullaby by Woody Guthrie, often sung by Arlo Guthrie, here by Emmylou Harris.
The Mockingbird Song - Hush Little Baby is a traditional lullaby, Peter Paul & Mary
Mazel tov on your sweet news. I have a grandbaby due in May, looking forward to singing *all* the lullabyes.
posted by theora55 at 11:09 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: There's nothing more entertaining than rocking a baby while completely sleep-deprived at 3 am and singing 49 verses of "Hush Little Baby" with made-up lyrics. "If that flying kite don't fly, papa's going to buy you a silly guy. If that silly guy don't talk, papa's gonna buy you a piece of chalk. If that piece of chalk don't write, papa's gonna buy a nice Light-Bright..." Except you're 90 percent asleep, so the lyrics aren't nearly so profound. Fortunately, newborns can't correct you, though they certainly can scream.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:20 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:20 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Shawn Colvin (feat. Kermit) did a very sweet cover of "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon."
I often find myself singing the Mountain Goats's "California Song" to a dog I'm trying to soothe. The original version has a sort of My First Casio backing that is not soothing, but on guitar only, it comes across quite nicely.
posted by praemunire at 11:23 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I often find myself singing the Mountain Goats's "California Song" to a dog I'm trying to soothe. The original version has a sort of My First Casio backing that is not soothing, but on guitar only, it comes across quite nicely.
posted by praemunire at 11:23 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Mostly easy to sing & play:
- Neil Young, Comes a Time
- Gillian Welch, Winter’s Come and Gone
- Many of the pop standards from Willie Nelson’s Stardust are great for this – esp. Moonlight in Vermont (bonus: haiku!) and Sunny Side of the Street
- Also, overused but your kid won’t know that yet (and it's really very sweet): White Stripes, We’re Going to Be Friends.
posted by miles per flower at 11:28 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
- Neil Young, Comes a Time
- Gillian Welch, Winter’s Come and Gone
- Many of the pop standards from Willie Nelson’s Stardust are great for this – esp. Moonlight in Vermont (bonus: haiku!) and Sunny Side of the Street
- Also, overused but your kid won’t know that yet (and it's really very sweet): White Stripes, We’re Going to Be Friends.
posted by miles per flower at 11:28 AM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
My two go-tos are “Que Sera Sera” and “Where Have All The Flowers Gone” which are pretty and melodic and I like the deep sense of individual resignation to larger forces when one is up at 2:30am
posted by sestaaak at 11:29 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by sestaaak at 11:29 AM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Raffi does a child-appropriate version of Good Night Irene that is probably the only actual lullaby I sang to my kids. Otherwise I just sang slow songs that I had memorized back when I still memorized songs, because to paraphrase Tom Selleck's character in Three Men and a Baby, "it doesn't matter what you sing, just the tone that you use." Now that they understand, or at least can make out, the words I stick to Good Night Irene, but usually now the pre-bedtime thing is reading them a book.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:35 AM on March 20, 2018
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:35 AM on March 20, 2018
I really loved Cat Stevens' If you want to sing out, sing out
posted by jillithd at 11:40 AM on March 20, 2018
posted by jillithd at 11:40 AM on March 20, 2018
You might like to get a copy of Rise Up Singing.
posted by Knowyournuts at 12:31 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Knowyournuts at 12:31 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Elizabeth Mitchell has covered many pop and folk songs - she was a mainstay of my kid's "go to sleep" mixtape.
posted by mogget at 12:40 PM on March 20, 2018
posted by mogget at 12:40 PM on March 20, 2018
Play whatever music you want. We have a four month old son who’s sleeping in my arms right now. To get him to sleep I played Smells like Teen Spirit and Jane Says. He was out about halfway through Jane Says. Sometimes it only takes 30 seconds of Nirvana to get him to sleep.
He also laughs at me if I sing him the chorus of Smells like Teen Spirit, but not at my wife. I’m not quite sure how I should interpret that.
He also really likes Juicy by Notorious B.I.G. If he’s crying or fussing he calms down almost immediately when Biggie starts playing. For some reason he likes Biggie more than Tupac, but is ok with All About You. He likes most Biggie songs though. We got some interesting looks at the doctor’s office one time when we had that going on our phone while walking down the hall.
We didn’t play these a lot before he was born so even if you try to shape his musical preferences he might have his own.
posted by unix at 12:50 PM on March 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
He also laughs at me if I sing him the chorus of Smells like Teen Spirit, but not at my wife. I’m not quite sure how I should interpret that.
He also really likes Juicy by Notorious B.I.G. If he’s crying or fussing he calms down almost immediately when Biggie starts playing. For some reason he likes Biggie more than Tupac, but is ok with All About You. He likes most Biggie songs though. We got some interesting looks at the doctor’s office one time when we had that going on our phone while walking down the hall.
We didn’t play these a lot before he was born so even if you try to shape his musical preferences he might have his own.
posted by unix at 12:50 PM on March 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh! Dear Theodosia from Hamilton. It's a lovely song, and reportedly Lin's wife Vanessa actually used it as the lullaby for their son Sebastian (which also amusingly convinced Sebastian that she wrote it instead of Lin).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:03 PM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:03 PM on March 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The Planet Sleeps is a collection of lullabies from different world cultures and a wonderful opportunity to find different soothing songs for babes.
posted by effluvia at 1:10 PM on March 20, 2018
posted by effluvia at 1:10 PM on March 20, 2018
Play whatever music you want.
Seconded. My best friend's two month old will only be soothed by Pearl Jam. When Kid Ruki was Baby Ruki, the most effective lullaby was Fairytale of New York.
posted by Ruki at 1:34 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Seconded. My best friend's two month old will only be soothed by Pearl Jam. When Kid Ruki was Baby Ruki, the most effective lullaby was Fairytale of New York.
posted by Ruki at 1:34 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Have a listen to the Disney album "For Our Children", if you can find a copy.
It's wonderful.
"For Our Children launched in 1990 and in many ways inspired the bounty of celebrity-philanthropy records for kids in its wake. From Bob Dylan and Sting to Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, and Elton John, the roster on this cornucopia of great kid songs--and even greater interpretations--has donated all proceeds to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Although tilted toward baby-boomer parents, the tracks have a timeless, ageless appeal. You'll be hard-pressed to find another five-star children's recording this satisfying, including the follow-up effort, For Our Children, Too. Little Richard rocks "Itsy Bitsy Spider," McCartney turns his sweet, melodic gifts toward "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and Bruce Springsteen makes a lively stew of "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips." Other noteworthy moments include Jackson Browne and Jennifer Warnes doing the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" and Carole King reprising the Disney Dumbo love theme, "Child of Mine." But surely the crowning touch is Dylan's unforgettable version of "This Old Man," phrased and delivered as only Dylan can with his mercurial invention and powerful character. This belongs in your children's collection. --Martin Keller "
posted by SLC Mom at 4:16 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's wonderful.
"For Our Children launched in 1990 and in many ways inspired the bounty of celebrity-philanthropy records for kids in its wake. From Bob Dylan and Sting to Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, and Elton John, the roster on this cornucopia of great kid songs--and even greater interpretations--has donated all proceeds to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Although tilted toward baby-boomer parents, the tracks have a timeless, ageless appeal. You'll be hard-pressed to find another five-star children's recording this satisfying, including the follow-up effort, For Our Children, Too. Little Richard rocks "Itsy Bitsy Spider," McCartney turns his sweet, melodic gifts toward "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and Bruce Springsteen makes a lively stew of "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips." Other noteworthy moments include Jackson Browne and Jennifer Warnes doing the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" and Carole King reprising the Disney Dumbo love theme, "Child of Mine." But surely the crowning touch is Dylan's unforgettable version of "This Old Man," phrased and delivered as only Dylan can with his mercurial invention and powerful character. This belongs in your children's collection. --Martin Keller "
posted by SLC Mom at 4:16 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
You might like to get a copy of Rise Up Singing.
And/or Rise Again, whose song list includes a "Lullabies" section. (Many videos of the selections here, in case you learn by ear.)
Congratulations!
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:05 PM on March 20, 2018
And/or Rise Again, whose song list includes a "Lullabies" section. (Many videos of the selections here, in case you learn by ear.)
Congratulations!
posted by MonkeyToes at 5:05 PM on March 20, 2018
Oooh, MonkeyToes! A new one for my wish list!
posted by Knowyournuts at 6:04 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Knowyournuts at 6:04 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I wouldn’t worry about the content. My neice and nephew heard “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” starting in the womb.
posted by bendy at 10:44 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bendy at 10:44 PM on March 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Peter Paul and Mary have some lovely tunes...
Puff the Magic Dragon
Right Field
The Marvelous Toy
John Denver is good for a nice song...
Take Me Home, Country Road
Rocky Mountain High
Grandma's Feather Bed
And then there are the classics...
Camp Granada by Allen Sherman
posted by TrishaU at 2:12 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Puff the Magic Dragon
Right Field
The Marvelous Toy
John Denver is good for a nice song...
Take Me Home, Country Road
Rocky Mountain High
Grandma's Feather Bed
And then there are the classics...
Camp Granada by Allen Sherman
posted by TrishaU at 2:12 AM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Barenaked Ladies have a sweet one called "When You Dream" (youtube link)and I sang it to my boys every night for years. I liked to do Kermit the Frog's Rainbow Connection, too.
Also Weird Al's "Midnight Star" (youtube) because it was fun for me but not a sweet song at all. "You can use your ESP to learn to play guitar!"
posted by turkeybrain at 8:56 AM on March 21, 2018
Also Weird Al's "Midnight Star" (youtube) because it was fun for me but not a sweet song at all. "You can use your ESP to learn to play guitar!"
posted by turkeybrain at 8:56 AM on March 21, 2018
Well, this song may not be a classic lullaby, and my singing was much softer, but I'd sing this to my sons before and after birth. It was particularly soothing when nursing them in the middle of the night. Copper Kettle (this version by Joan Baez)
posted by annieb at 5:38 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by annieb at 5:38 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks guys! Especially stoked about James Taylor and Gillian Welch (how have i missed these two??) and absolutely love Springsteen's chicken lips & lizard hips song as well as that The Planet Sleeps album. All good stuff 😍thanks ya'll!
posted by speakeasy at 11:37 AM on March 22, 2018
posted by speakeasy at 11:37 AM on March 22, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Paul Mccartney - Blackbird - introduced to me by the movie Boss Baby.
Puff the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul and Mary
Little Boxes - the Weeds theme song
posted by MadMadam at 9:54 AM on March 20, 2018 [3 favorites]