I sang the same lullaby to my twins almost every night when they were babies – ‘Baby Mine’ the song from the Dumbo Movie. I still love that lullaby, but when my middle child was born and he took forever to get to sleep, I found myself singing it over, and over, and over, until I didn’t love it quite so much! I needed something new to sing but I had no idea what.
Some nights I started making up songs in desperation! They usually went something like this:
“Why don’t you ever go to sleep?
Go to sleep, oh please go to sleep
Sleep is good, you need to sleep
Please sleep, please, please, please, sleep”
To save my poor son from hearing his mother plead in song all day and night I’ve come up with a few more good lullaby options!
These ten groovy lullabies are easy to sing along to, calming and soothing, and above all else, they are not boring!
Ten Best Groovy Lullabies
I have linked to you-tube videos of the songs where I could find them, some of the videos are tad odd, but at least you can sample them and hear for yourself what I am yabbering on about!
Goodnight My Angel – Billy Joel
This is not so easy for a female voice to sing but it is a beautiful song with beautiful words.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
This version combines both songs and is just way cool!
Dreamland – Art Garfunkle
A little bit hippy and whole lot of fun. I really really like this one! Excuse the odd video that goes along with this song on you-tube it was the only version I could find!
Stay Awake
The original version was by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins but there are some new and groovy versions out there including my favourite by Susan Vega and this one by Harry Connick Jnr. The lyrics of this song just make me grin – perfect for my non-sleeper!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – Fredrika Stahl
Now before you think I am nuts for suggesting this boring nursery rhyme as a hip and groovy lullaby, go listen to this version…. it’s anything but boring!
The Long Day is Over – Nora Jones
A lot of people suggested Nora Jones – and she certainly is cool and soulful. I picked The Long Day is Over just cause the title sounded right!
Morningtown Ride – The Seekers.
A tad daggy I know, but this version by the seekers reminds me of my childhood, and it’s nice and easy to sing!
Moonshadow – Cat Stevens
Gone hippy again, but I really like this song. It’s easy to sing and the chorus is cool, even if the rest of the words are not entirely sleep inducing!
Baby Mine – Bette Midler
I have to include my favourite lullaby on the list, even if I am a little over it. This version from the movie Beaches is my favourite.
Wiccan Lullaby
This song is all floaty and peaceful – I really like the version by Bette Midler, but I can’t find it online anywhere, so this one will have to do.
I’m still collecting great lullaby options so if you know one that is not on the list please pop it in the comments below!
Some great Lullabys there, I love the Cat Stevens one and we actually had his Morning has broken song at our wedding
These are my three. All from the same old movie so probably no versions anywhere but in my head.
Goodnight Time to Call it a Day
Lullaby in Ragtime and
Five Pennies sung in sequence they are really calming. They are from the movie Five Pennies.
Just popping in to see what is happening in your neck of the world. Love this list of songs.
Oh Morning Town Ride was the lullaby my dad used to play on an LP for me at bedtime… wasted way to much time listening to it again last night. Great post Kate :)
Thanks for sharing! I didn’t know there were so many good ones.
I LOVE the new version of Twinkle Twinkle, actually WE love the new version! We sing it so much we’ve forgotten how the boring old version went!
DH always sings James Taylor’s “Rockaby sweet baby James” (only he switches in the name of the baby he’s singing to)
…and pretty much anything from the Beatles. Let it Be, Yesterday, etc…
Here’s a secret–it’s not about WHAT you sing, it’s about HOW you sing it!!! Sing it slow and mellow, and anything is a lullabye…trust me, ANYTHING. :-)
One of my FAVORITES is Kenny Loggins “Return to Pooh Corner” album…Rainbow connection, return to pooh corner, and “love is” are all awesome songs.
I also like Doobie Brothers “Winkyn Blinkyn and Nod” from the nursery rhyme. My daddy used to sing that to me. :-)
They are great-
ive sung Little Little by Jenny Morris to Maddox since i was pregnant and still am even though it isnt really applicable any more still a lovely song- couldnt fine a you tube vid though :(
I landed here from Skittles’ Place, looking for Wordless Wednesday. Found this great list instead and wanted to say thanks. We are always on the look out for new lullabies. Our little man loves them.
R.E.M.- you are the everything.
Thanks for these great songs. My baby boy loves Apron Strings by Everything But the Girl
Thanks for these suggestions! They are great!
Another favorite of mine is Lullaby by Josh Groban with Ladysmith Black Mambazo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_dgaO9f_5U
Hushabye Mountain by Stacy Kent
Ohh, my little is 4 and I have sung to him everynight. If I sing in the car he drops like a fly even if its in the day time! And I don’t even sing well! I can’t wait to have a listen to these with him later.
Some of Ours….
Godspeed- Dixie Chicks
Lullabye- Dixie Chicks
Your Song- Ellie Goulding
Adele- To Make you Feel My Love
I Won’t Give Up- Cover by Lennon and Maisy Stella (My new fav!)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow- Any version
My little singing with me at 2yrs old –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C1o5ipEZR8
The Rainbow Connection and Beautiful Boy/Girl (we change it depending if I’m singing it to my girl or boy x
Thanks for sharing
My favorite lullaby to sing to my daughter is Beautiful [girl]. It’s real title is Beautiful Boy and it’s John Lennon’s song for his son.
“Close your eyes. Have no fear. The monster’s gone, he’s on the run and your [mommy’s] here. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful [Girl].”
Such a perfect song.