Songs I Use For Lullabies and What Makes Them Work

So I haven’t been around lately to do some blog work. It’s really my fault, because I like to do more stress-relieving things in the spare time I can manage instead of trying to intricate words. (It also seems to get harder and harder every day, on account of all the baby talking.) But apologies aside, here’s some interesting information.

Having a child will drastically decrease your self-consciousness about singing in front of other people. Sometimes that’s the only way they’ll stop fussing, or other times there’s nothing to really fill in the gaps between oohs, aahs, and blank stares. Whatever the reason, it’s a good thing, because songs are obviously God’s gift to mothers.

Now, my personal philosophy is that every old, cliche lullaby is entirely overrated. I don’t want to be singing them over and over. I’m not interested in rocking babies and diamond rings, I’m interested in songs that won’t drive me crazy. Trust me, when you’re singing a song you actually enjoy and has more meaning than implying you’ll buy things for your child or that they’re going to fall out of a tree, it’s a lot more enjoyable to bond through music. So I’ve developed a short list of appropriate songs and why I use them.

The Only Exception by Paramore:

When I was younger I saw my daddy cry, and curse at the wind.
He broke his own heart and I watched as he tried to reassemble it

And my momma swore that she would never let herself forget.
And that was the day that I promised I’d never sing of love if it does not exist.

But darling,
You are the only exception
You are the only exception.

The reason for this song is for a few reasons. The first being that it hits home for me, and the second being that my baby tends to smile brightly every time I repeat “only exception”. The point is that it’s a song I enjoy, on top of being something slow and perfect for us to have a quiet moment with. That brings me to my second song:

Anything For You by Ludo

I’ve gotten drunk and shot the breeze with kings of far off lands 
They showed me wealth as far as I could see.
But their kingdoms seemed all shrivelly and they cried with jealousy 
When I leaned in and told them about you.

This song might not be as slow or lullaby-worthy as some of the other songs on this list, but it paints a beautiful adventure with eloquent words that will be fun for her to listen to for years to come. It talks of travel to all the corners of the galaxy and the willingness to sacrifice anything for one person. I think that is one of the best definitions of love.

They Call Her Blossom by Philter

They call her Blossom
They call her winterstorm
They call her blade sharp
They call her soft, and silky

While not being a very wordy song or that complicated, They Call Her Blossom tells a simple story about a girl with a strong personality whom everyone would love. Out of all the songs on my list, this is probably the most lullaby worthy – Unfortunately, it’s not very long, and because of this I tend not to sing it as often as I sing the next song.

Homeward Bound by Marta Keen

If you find it’s me you’re missing, if you’re hoping I’ll return,
To your thought I’ll soon be list’ning; in the road I’ll stop and turn.
Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end,
And the path I’ll be retracing when I’m homeward bound again.

Oddly enough this is a song I sang in my Vocal Ensemble in middle school. It is one that’s always stuck with me, and as a result it’s my typical first choice. Yes, it’s probably about a horse. No, I don’t own a farm. This song is full of analogies that can be interpreted in many ways but every way says “I love you.” Nobody can dispute that. The next song carries some of that same message.

The Call by Regina Spektor

It started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought, which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder ’til it was a battle cry
I’ll come back when you call me, no need to say goodbye

This song tells a message about constant changes in life. It states that sometimes, things will change, but that those things could have been that way already without realizing it. It says to remember where you come from and not to be afraid of where you’re going. On top of being a soft song by the queen of soft songs, it comes from The Chronicles of Narnia, which will be a fun addition to my baby’s knowledge base as she grows older.

There are plenty of other songs I have yet to encounter that I may sing sometime. These are simply my top 5…if I had made the list any longer I’m sure it never would have made it up onto the blog. I hope that you’re imaginative in coming up with lullabies for your children. Or don’t be. It’s entirely up to you. I just know that the way I do things is perfect for me, and for my little Lilly. And that’s what counts.