Lullabies

It may seem a bit odd to some of you but I have a lullaby for each of my children. I kind of got the idea from this book I once read. It was a fantasy book which is rather irrelevant, but one of the mini concepts of the book was that a certain race of elves-- whose power was wrought through music-- would choose a song for each of their children. The mother would sing this song to them throughout her pregnancy and during the childs early years. Almost along the lines of the Earthsea Trilogy's use of true names, these songs held great power for or against the person to whom they were connected.

So each child had their own song, their own lullaby. I liked this idea so I, perhaps unintentionally, stole it. Although I don't usually have a song picked out until just before my kids are born I still make a clear and conscious effort to stick to that song when they are babies. It's fun, and they seem to fit with each childs temperament.

My daughter, Vicbowin, was lulled to sleep to a song from the cartoon version of Anastasia.

"Dancing bears, painted wings, things I almost remember, and a song someone sings once upon a December. Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm and a song someone sings once upon a December."

She loves this song and at 7 years old it still comforts and calms her.

Albowin, bless his 6 year old heart, doesn't usually care. His is probably my most unsung lullaby. Usually it is reserved for those super long nights when nothing else works. His is from Tarzan:

"Hush, stop your crying it'll be alright. Come, take my hand and hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here don't you cry. For one so small you seem so strong. My arms will hold you keep you safe and warm. This bond between us it can't be broken, we're not that different at all. Cause you'll be in my heart, and you'll be in my soul, from this day on now and forever more. Always."

As for my 2 year old munchkin man he reacts the strongest to his lullaby. It practically knocks him out. Regardless of his mood if I sing it to him he will go find a blanket and run into my arms. I LOVE it. His is from The Prince of Egypt (and perhaps the one I can sing the best):

"Hush now my baby, be still love don't cry. Sleep as you're rocked by the sea. Sleep and remember my last lullaby and I'll be with you while you dream.

River, oh river flow gently for me, such precious cargo you bear...."

And that's as much of that one as I know, then I just go into la's and da's but he hardly cares.

So I'm having some difficulty with what to sing to my new baby. I really, really love the song 'Unwritten' by Natasha Bedingfield but the beat is wrong for a lullaby. It goes like this:

"I am unwritten... I'm just beginning the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned. Staring at the blank page before you. Open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find. Feel the rays on your skin. No one else can feel it for you. Only you can let it in. No one else, no one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten."

It's in my playlist down below if you want to hear the beat. I'm wondering what you think. It truly is one of my favorite songs... So yay or nay? And if nay then what song do you suggest?

Comments

Jessica Bair said…
I used to sing that song from "Dumbo" to Bianca "Baby mine don't you cry, baby mine dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine". She loved it. Now I just pick random primary songs or hymns to sing everynight before bed to all the kids.
Claire said…
I actually have songs for each of my kids too. What's kinda weird about mine is they just spontaneously occur without me thinking about it. This is good and bad. Good, because it didn't require any effort on my part and bad because sometimes the lyrics aren't exactly lullaby material. With the first (Kellie, who was with me until 18 months old) it was "brown-eyed girl" by Van Morrison. Crimson was the Crimson and Clover song until I ended up making a bath song for her, which she still likes me to sing to her. Rejeanne has her own song "I love Rejie, yes I do. I love Rejie you should too, I love Rejie all the time, I am hers and she is mine". With Cyrus, I started singing the "you are my sunshine" song, but I'm trying to break myself of it because the rest of the song (beyond the first verse) is really horrible! I also sing random hyms to them, but those aren't specifically theirs. Rejeanne caught me singing her song to Cyrus once and had a complete fit over it. I haven't done that twice, that is for sure!

Anyways, I say go ahead and sing Unwritten. It's amazing what kids can sleep to :)
Jennifer said…
I haven't heard that song before, but now I'm in love with it. What a great song!
Polly Blevins said…
That is such a great idea! I wish you would have shared that with me before I already had two kids.
Kaz said…
Kourtneys song is "the rainbow connection"sung by Kermit the Frog. It is on my play list if you want to want to take a listen. She just listened the the lullaby music (with no words) but we like the one with words too. So if you like it and want to go ahead and use that song, I wont care if you steal it :)
Cannwin said…
Wow, Kazia thanks, that's a huge gift I will look your song up. My little Vicbowin informed me that since she has two lullabies she insists she does) then I can use 'all the pretty horses' for the new baby if I want. She doesn't mind sharing. It was a very special thing for her to say.

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