Which rock/folk songs make good lullabies?

[yurbud]

I just had a baby, and I sing the same handful of songs to her over and over.

She probably doesn't care, but I'd like some variety.

I figure if it's a pop song, there's a chance I might already know the lyrics or will be able to memorize them pretty quickly.

Also, even if I already know it, I might have forgotten I know it from sleep deprivation.

[Lyric]

1. This is the one I sang to my son when he was a baby:

"Goodnight My Angel" - Billy Joel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcnd55tLCv8

[Tikki]

2. City of New Orleans...Arlo Guthrie

Congratulations on the little one....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piUWIqWSthA

Never can start too soon to instill a social conscience in a little one.
Wish there was a way parents could have the accompanying video show a bit
across the nursery wall or whatever.


Tikki

[yurbud]

11. I know the song but missed the social message all these years

[elleng]

38. GREAT video!

[hippywife]

3. The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell

I used to sing it to a roommate's baby when I rocked her. :hi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR2vGJSX0xo

[annabanana]

4. Golden Slumbers - Beatles. . n/t

[annabanana]

5. Also "Good Night"

and maybe fool on the hill. . .

[Captain Hilts]

55. Goodnight is VASTLY under rated to the point of being obscure. nt

[Maccagirl]

17. I'll follow the sun

sounds like a lullaby too.

[Captain Hilts]

56. Yes. Love it. nt

[av8rdave]

64. Here comes the sun is another good Beatles one for a lullaby

[hippywife]

6. Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison

Couldn't find a video for it, though. Just covers by other people.

[auntAgonist]

7. Congrats on the new baby girl!! My favourite by a long shot..

Annabelle: by Don Henley.


I watch you sleeping
My weary heart rises up on wings
I hear your laughter
Something deep down inside me sings

Way down here in the land of cotton
You were born on a rainy day
Since then, sweet things long forgotten
They just keep flooding back my way

Oh child, I cannot tell you how the time just flies
But I have had my days of glory under sunny skies
These days, your bright dreams are all I want to see
Sleep tight, annabel
You can always count on me

In this cold world, folks will judge you
Though they don??�t know you at all
And I may not be there to catch you
Anytime that you might fall

But, you got my hard head
And your mother??�s grace
All the likeness of the loved ones right there in your face
And I know in the end you??�ll be who you will be

So sleep tight, annabel
You can always count on me

[yurbud]

13. I don't recognize it, but I'll look up a vid since he's pretty good.

[auntAgonist]

21. I looked for a vid on YouTube and couldn't find one :(

I hope you find it. It's one of my favourite songs.

:hi:

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. This is the one I would LOVE to sing to a child...

.
...ESPECIALLY to a child who has a sad... whatever age.
.
.
Rickie Lee Jones' "Rainbow Sleeves" (written by Tom Waits)
...(I change the word 'whiskey' to 'whimsey')
.
Maybe my favorite of all my favorites of her work ("Girl
at her Volcano" is probably my favorite of her albums).
.
.
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKMGH1Xhtc0
.
You used to dream yourself away each night
To places that you'd never been
On wings made of wishes
That you whispered to yourself
Back when every night the moon and you
Would sweep away to places
That you knew
Where you would never get the blues

Well now, *whimsey* gives you wings
To carry
Each one of your dreams
And the moon does not belong to you
But I believe
That your heart keeps young dreams
Well, I've been told
To keep from ever growing old
And a heart that has been broken
Will be stronger when it mends

Don't let the blues stop you singing
Darling, you've only got a broken wing
Hey, you just hang on to my rainbow
Hang on to my rainbow
Hang on to my rainbow sleeves
.

[abq e streeter]

9. The Band-All La Glory , The Beatles-I'm Only Sleeping, and almost any version of Summertime

(except Billy Stewart's; great but definitely NOT lullaby material)

And congratulations on the new baby !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLXgPThb-WQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETO3YfDKEI4

[nolabear]

10. Sweet Baby James. If I sang it once, I sang it a million times.

Also, Every Day by Buddy Holly.

[yurbud]

12. I love sweet baby james

[hippywife]

14. Sweet Baby James is a good one, too.

:thumbsup:

How about another James Taylor..."You've Got a Friend?"

:hi:

[elleng]

39. 'We' listened to it, a million times!

And baby Julie is now 21!

Have a wonderful time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9MncdJ_lOs

[Crystal Clarity]

68. Damn you!...Now I've forgotten the song I intended to post.

But I doubt it would have surpassed "Sweet Baby James" otherwise, I'd probably be remembering it by now. Great choice!

[Brickbat]

15. Here's a bunch I used to sing:

"This Land Is Your Land," Woody Guthrie
"Grass Grass Grass," Woody Guthrie
Which Side Are You On?
Solidarity Forever
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
"Behind Blue Eyes," The Who
"Paradise," John Prine
"Teach Your Children Well," CSNY
"Carry On/Questions," CSNY
"Coalminers," Uncle Tupelo

[jefferson_dem]

16. Froggie Went A-Courtin'

Not a lullaby but a fun song for kids and parents alike.

It's a classic and has been covered many times. Seek out Dylan's version especially - http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/froggie-went-courtin

EDIT: Congratulations on the new addition to your family. Mine just turned 14 two weeks ago and I can't believe it. There's no greater gift than a child. Enjoy!

[hippywife]

18. You Can Close Your Eyes by James Taylor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkIiaaXUjlE&feature=related

Carolina in My Mind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXmgkvIgc0w&feature=related

[hippywife]

19. The Way I Always Heard It Should Be by Carly Simon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux7HgO9QhAc

Blackbird by The Beatles (sung here by Carly Simon)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLSSAZ7wsM0

Up On the Roof by Carole King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MopbhuZ2Bh0

So Far Away by Carole King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UM249-WfP4

It's Too Late by Carole King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSep7QJXKlE&feature=PlayList&p=A10AEF5493BB0AAD&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=3


Even though all the words aren't "lullaby-ish" the melodies and timing are. Enjoy singing to your baby. :hi:

[RandomThoughts]

20. A reply to the concept that its too late.

I think that is a bad concept to create despair, so it needs a response. Although I like the singer very much.


Response
It will get better. Live for Life.


Never Too Late For Love - Three Days Grace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL2ZwXj1tXM



This world will never be
What I expected
And if I don't belong
Who would have guessed it
I will not leave alone
Everything that I own
To make you feel like it's not too late
It's never too late

Even if I say
It'll be alright
Still I hear you say
You want to end your life
Now and again we try
To just stay alive
Maybe we'll turn it all around
'Cause it's not too late
It's never too late

No one will ever see
This side reflected
And if there's something wrong
Who would have guessed it
And I have left alone
Everything that I own
To make you feel like
It's not too late
It's never too late

Even if I say
It'll be alright
Still I hear you say
You want to end your life
Now and again we try
To just stay alive
Maybe we'll turn it all around
'Cause it's not too late
It's never too late

The world we knew
Won't come back
The time we've lost
Can't get back
The life we had
Won't be ours again

This world will never be
What I expected
And if I don't belong

Even if I say
It'll be alright
Still I hear you say
You want to end your life
Now and again we try
To just stay alive
Maybe we'll turn it all around
'Cause it's not too late
It's never too late
Maybe we'll turn it all around
'Cause it's not too late
It's never too late (It's never too late)
It's not too late
It's never too late


Lock!!!!

[hippywife]

22. It's just a melody.

The babe won't understand the words.

Are you okay? You've been posting some rather odd things lately. :hi:

[RandomThoughts]

23. yea doing great, no problems at all.

Just working hard, lots of things to do still.

Thank you for the kind words and the concern, just working on some things.

:hug: :loveya:

[hippywife]

25. Well, I just sensed something

in your posts lately that made me think there was something disturbing you. I hope all is truly well.

:hug:

[RandomThoughts]

27. A bad Freedy taken down, that is good news as far as the way I see the video.

Really good news, but again thanks for the kind thoughts.

I think the video is really good, there is conflict in it, I agree, but works out for the better.

:hug:

[hippywife]

24. Okay...last one.

This has a lovely melody and is very easy to learn.

Ariana by Don Conoscenti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4AKMI7mDD4

[rug]

26. Father and Daughter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhT0Pydv4JQ&feature=related

Beautiful Boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uldu_1-JCJE

My Three Babies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3mQYj86JRM

Three Little Birds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIjkW6iyXNo

[carlyhippy]

28. It's been a few years, but I think I still have the list.....

Songbird-Fleetwood Mac:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZNvQMJ7N0s

Full Sail-Beach Boys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4E-heaTvk

Because I love you-Stevie B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtyGqav7878

[oregonjen]

29. This one is pretty darn good...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zBXggVvl_Y

NO ONE LIKE YOU (John Denver)

I like your eyes.
I like your nose.
I like your mouth.
Your ears, your hands, your toes.

I like you face.
It's really you.
I like the things you say and do.
There's not a single soul
Who sees the skies
The way you see them.
Through your eyes.
And aren't you glad.
You should be glad.
There's no one, no one
Exactly like you.

[marzipanni]

30. Donovan 'Gift from a Flower to a Garden', esp. album 2- 'for Little ones'

If you play the Donovan songs on this YouTube channel you'll find several songs that are good lullabies~
http://www.youtube.com/user/sixties4ever13#p/c/521B3514CD8ED05A/8/jBaiWZSg3Io

- Review #2 - about Donovan's songs/lullabies- http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Flower-Garden-Donovan/dp/B00005MM01

I love this Pete Seeger song, 'Sailing Down my Golden River", and sang it to my son.
Here is a video Sarah Lee Guthrie (Woody Guthrie's granddaughter, Arlo's daughter) singing it when she was 14. Now she's 31 and sings with her husband and family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sslw-lXFaC8

[nolabear]

31. I almost forgot! Saint Judy's Comet by Paul Simon!

Oooh, little sleepy boy,
do you know what time it is?
Well, the hour of your bedtime's long been past.
And though I know you're fightin' it,
I can tell when you rub your eyes
that you're fadin' fast.
Fadin' fast.

Won't you run come see St. Judy's Comet
roll across the skies,
and leave a spray of diamonds in its wake.
I long to see St. Judy's comet sparkle in your eyes when you awake.
Oh, when you wake, awake...


(Sweet, sweet, sweet song)

[Arugula Latte]

52. Here is a Paul Simon song for his daughter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhT0Pydv4JQ

Father and Daughter
If you ever leap awake
In the mirror of a bad dream
And for a fraction of a second
You can't remember where you are
Just open your window
And follow your memory upstream
To the meadow in the mountain
Where we counted every falling star

I believe the light that shines on you
Will shine on you forever
And though I can't guarantee
There's nothing scary hiding under your bed
I’m gonna stand guard
Like a postcard of a Golden Retriever
And never leave till I leave you
With a sweet dream in your head

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
That loved his daughter more than I love you

Trust your intuition
It's just like going fishing
You cast your line
And hope you'll get a bite
But you don't need to waste your time
Worrying about the market place
Try to help the human race
Struggling to survive its harshest night

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
That loved his daughter more than I love you

I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
That loved his daughter more than I love you

[Danmel]

32. As Tears Go By

Rolling Stones/Marianne Faithful

[hibbing]

33. Forever Young - Bob Dylan

Hi,
Beautiful song with lovely lyrics.

Peace

[Doc_Technical]

34. Moody Blues- Eyes of a Child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVBfsJ7SoxI&feature=related

[kas125]

35. The best song for a dad to sing to his little girl, in my opinion,

is I Will Take You Home - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZjDxo-AISo

Little girl lost
In a forest of dreams.
It's a dark old wood
And it's damp with dew.
Hoot owl hoots
For a moment it seems
Something big and cold
Just got ahold of you.
Just when everything gets scary,
Daddy's come 'round for his darlin' again.
Hold my hand with your little fingers.
Daddy's loving arms gonna gather you in.

Ain't no way the Bogeyman can get you,
You can close your eyes, the world is gonna let you,
Your daddy's here and never will forget you,
I will take you home.
I will take you home.
Gonna carry you back home
In my arms.
I will take you home.

Long is the road
We must travel on down.
Short are the legs
That will struggle behind.
I wish I knew for sure
Just where we're bound,
What we will be doin'
And what we're gonna find.
Wherever we go, there will be birds to cheer you
Flower to color in the fields around.
Wherever we go, I'll be right here near you
You can't get lost when you're always found.

Ain't no fog that's thick enough to hide you
Your daddy's gonna be right here beside you
If your fears should start to get inside you
I will take you home.
I will take you home.
Gonna carry you back home
In my arms.
I will take you home.

[AllenVanAllen]

36. It's obscure but the song "Sun"

by Concrete Blonde always sounded like a lullaby to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8sYrxgrr08


Sun
part the dark and chase it gone
you're the sweet and sunny one
as bright as any star tonight.
You smile like a beam of light
you can
show me a ray
show me a ray
show me a ray
show me a ray of
Sun.
Just until the morning comes
I'm the gray and cloudy one
Raining for so long, so long
Like a candle blowing in a storm
but you can
Show me a ray
Show me a ray
Show me a ray
Show me a ray
of
Sun.

:hi:

[melman]

37. Big Star - Blue Moon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwxjt144-QI&feature=related

[Arkansas Granny]

40. My sister used to sing her baby to sleep with "Never Been to Spain".

She said the rhythm was just right for rocking while seated on the side of the bed. I always hummed something rather tuneless and monotonous and bored them to sleep.

[MissMillie]

41. In-a-gadda-da-vida

Actually, ANY song makes for a good lullaby, as long as you sing it sweetly enough and gently enough.

[hippywife]

42. That's what I think.

:hi:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

43. "Farewell and Goodnight"--The Smashing Pumpkins. The perfect song.

Only Billy & Co. could end a double disk album with a lullabye and not have it come off sounding cheesy or pretentious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPBg7_M4gwA

goodnight, to every little hour that you sleep tight
may it hold you through the winter of a long night
and keep you from the loneliness of yourself
heart strung is your heart frayed and empty
cause it's hard luck, when no one understands your love
it's unsung, and i say
goodnight, my love, to every hour in every day
goodnight, always, to all that's in your heart
goodnight, may your dreams be so happy and your
head lite with the wishes of a sandman and a night light
be careful not to let the bedbugs sleep tight nestled in your covers
the sun shines but i don't
a silver rain will wash away
and you can tell, it's just as well
goodnight, my love, to every hour in every day
goodnight, always to all that's pure that's in your heart

Such a great song on such a great album. I want it played at my funeral.

[mitchum]

44. Pale Blue Eyes, Sunday Morning, Jesus, Satellite of Love, Berlin...

Perfect Day, Ride Sally Ride
All by Lou Reed

[Common Sense Party]

45. "MLK" by U2

I sang it to all my babies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgZYlTpRoRc

[Lilith Velkor]

46. Neil Young's "Ohio"

I still remember the melody from the time before I knew more than a few words.

[dropkickpa]

47. "Yellow Submarine" worked for Dropkid

[Blue-Jay]

48. Holy Diver.

[Beaverhausen]

49. Shawn Colvin- Nothing Like You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ8iDmbeSuE

[hippywife]

50. Danny's Song by Kenny Loggins.

I heard this one on the way home and went, "Duh!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI61ltOyCcY

[Dr Morbius]

51. Two suggestions:

For a girl, Robin Trower's Little Girl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr5fH32fWR4

For anyone (ideally, a grown-up girl), Bob Dylan's I'll Be Your Baby Tonight. I can't find a youtube of Dylan's version; here's Norah Jones with a (lesser) cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlVpVIeY74U

[Rhiannon12866]

53. For Baby: Mary Travers

When I saw Peter, Paul and Mary in concert, back in the '80s, she told about how difficult it was to belt out certain notes when she was expecting... :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2fFBp38kh0

[GCP]

54. I like the Joe Cocker version of Bye Bye Blackbird

I used to sing Bye Bye Blackbird to my little DS1 when he was a nipper, Cocker's version comes close to mine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UCxwAxB7Jc

[Burma Jones]

57. For my three kids:

Son, now 12 - Saint Behind the Glass by Los Lobos

Elder Daughter, now 10, Ripple by The Grateful Dead

Younger Daughter, now 3, Happiness Runs by Donovan

[av8rdave]

65. I was just going to mention Ripple

I sang that to both of my kids.

GREAT lullaby.

[BlueIris]

58. Tori Amos, "Merman." Gregory and the Hawk, "Boats and Birds." Dar Williams, "This Was Pompeii."

That last one is less "singable." Might be better for a softy-played stereo in the newspaper.

[Burma Jones]

70. Merman? Like Ethel Merman? That would scare the hell outta my kids....

Har Har

[BlueIris]

71. No, "Merman," like "He's a merman/He doesn't need your voice..."

It's about self-esteem.

[Mopar151]

59. A real oldie

Heard it on a tribute album to Jimmie Rogers - here's the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mShiSlW6KVY
Emmylou Harris version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8ddwpbZXdI

james Taylor, covering a John Anderson song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h73Mq-BLMg4 - great live version from Letterman show

Mad World - Gary Jules cover of the Tears for Fears song, from the Donnie Darko soundtrack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4

[Dulcinea]

60. Take Me Home, Country Roads--John Denver

My daughter loves that song. She's 6 now & still loves for me to sing it to her.

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains growin' like a breeze.

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads.

All my mem'ries gather 'round her
Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye.

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads.

I hear her voice in the mornin' hours, she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin' down the road I get a feelin'
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday.

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads.

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads
Take me home (down) country roads
Take me home (down) country roads.

[DFW]

61. If you've never heard this, it's one of the most mellow songs I've ever heard

"Til The Dreaming's Done" by Bruce Hornsby on his Songs From The Southside album.

Almost 20 years ago, as a dear friend of our was dying of cancer at age 36, I put together a tape of songs like that to
help her calm down and pass the time waiting for the inevitable, and this was one of her favorites.

[jotsy]

62. John Mayer's Heart of Life

From his Continuum album.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4m71L2oAT4>

on edit
oops, meant to post to OP, sorry.

[DFW]

63. No sweat

I do it all the time!

[geardaddy]

66. How about...

"I Wanna be Sedated" by the Ramones?

;)

[BarbaRosa]

67. Hush little baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGqSVDbtKS0&feature=related

[BrklynLiberal]

69. John Lennon's Beautiful Boy from Double Fantasy

Gender is irrelevant. The thoughts are what count.

Always loved that song..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uldu_1-JCJE