A while back I compiled a list of lullabies suited as much for our kiddos as for us, the parents.  I imagined a master mix tape of songs that I would enjoy listening to along with (at the time) my niece and, now, with Lenny.  Embarrassingly, I did not gift the original CD of lullabies to my sister as promised–this has happened not once, but, ahem, twice.  So, what’s left to do than up the ante and add nine more songs to the list and hope that this time I may actually burn the CD and it will make its way to her and my niece.  And, I just may make a copy for myself and Lenny while I’m at it….

Hang on Little Tomato by Pink Martini: This sweet song pops up every so often on one of my Pandora stations.  Like many of the songs on this new list, it is less a lullaby than a sleepy song with a nice message.  This one is good for comforting your little tomato when they need it most.

“Just hang on, hang on to the vine / hang on, soon you’ll be divine / If you start to cry, look up to the sky / Something’s coming up ahead / To turn your tears to dew instead.”

 

You are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne: Maybe a love song between partners, but I think the words can apply to the love of a child as well.

“Baby we’ve come a long way / And baby you know I hope and I pray / That you believe me / When I say this love will never fade away / Because you are the best thing that ever happened to me.”

 

Sort Of by Ingrid Michaelson:  So, if you read through the lyrics, I think it’s more a song about being stuck in an unhealthy relationship.  But the melody is pretty, and I love Ingrid Michaelson so, as the song title implies, we will only “sort of” call this a lullaby.

“Baby you’ve got the sort of laugh that waters me / And makes me grow tall and strong and proud and flattens me / I find you stunning, but you are running me down / My love’s too big for you my love.”

 

Love Someone by Jason Mraz: Again, I think this is more a love song between partners but…JASON MRAZ.

“When you love someone / Your heartbeat beats so loud / When you love someone / Your feet can’t feel the ground / Shining stars all seem / To congregate around your face / When you love someone / It comes back to you.”

 

Motherland by Natalie Merchant:  So, um, the meaning of this song is a little over my head, as are most of Natalie Merchant’s songs.  But my sister loves her, and my niece can sing every word of the chorus, so this song just had to make the list.

“Motherland cradle me / Close my eyes / Lullaby me to sleep / Keep me safe / Lie with me /  Stay beside me / Don’t go…”

 

Sweet Baby James by James Taylor:  This song was a nice addition in the comments of my last lullaby post.  I do love me some James Taylor, so this song fits right in.  He can sing me to sleep any night.  Too bad my name isn’t James.

“Goodnight you moonlight ladies / Rock-a-bye sweet baby James / Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose, won’t you let me go down in my dreams? / And rock-a-bye sweet baby James.”

 

Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) by The Dixie Chicks:  I had left this song off of my original list simply because I had another Dixie Chicks song on there which edged this one out just slightly.  But I do like this song, and it was another one listed in the comments, so I’ll add it here as well.

“Godspeed, little man / Sweet dreams, little man / Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels’ wings / Godspeed / Sweet dreams.”

 

Blackbird by The Beatles:  This is simply a pretty song.  The link will take you to the Sarah McLachlan version, which I prefer, but with a Beatles/Sarah combo you just can’t go wrong.

“Blackbird singing in the dead of night / Take these broken wings and learn to fly / All your life / You were only waiting for this moment to arise”

 

Power of Two by The Indigo Girls:  My sister suggested this one in the comments of my last post and I had a “duh” moment for not adding it in the first place.  We love Indigo Girls.  We love this song.  My sister and my niece call this “the Lullaby Song” and my niece knows all the words to the chorus.  Done and done.

“So we’re okay /  We’re fine / Baby I’m here to stop your crying / Chase all the ghosts from your head / I’m stronger than the monsters beneath your bed / Smarter than the tricks played on your heart / Look at them together then we’ll take them apart / Adding up the total of a love that’s true / Multiply life by the power of two.”

 

What are your favorite lullabies to share with your little ones?  Please add to my list!