Lullabies

As I was rocking Hope before putting her down for her nap on Saturday, it occurred to me that this might be an interesting topic to reflect upon.

When I was little, I remember my mom singing to me when she tucked me in at night. We would say prayers, and then she would sing Away in a Manger to me. I'd listen and think about the "little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay."

I have always sung lullabies to my children before bedtime (at least until they got too big to cuddle and rock--although I can still manage that with Grant and Ross if they're interested). When Grant was a baby, my favorite lullaby to sing was You are my Sunshine. I would rock and cradle him in my arms, look into his quiet baby eyes studying my face, and sing softly to him--

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

I felt such a connection to Grant through this song. I sang it to Ross, too, but I tried to find another song that could be 'his' song, and Hush Little Baby became Ross's signature lullaby.

Then, when Hope was born, I had a little girl to sing to. For whatever reason, that opened up my options. I experimented with Words by the Bee Gees but quickly hit upon a very unlikely, but very appropriate song that makes a beautiful lullaby when sung softly--Sweet Child O' Mine. Yes, the Guns N Roses song. Don't believe me? Check out how appropriate the lyrics are for a little girl:

She's got a smile that it seems to me
Reminds me of childhood memories
Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky
Now and then when I see her face
She takes me away to that special place
And if I stared too long
I'd probably break down and cry

Oh, sweet child o' mine
Oh, sweet love of mine

She's got eyes of the bluest skies
As if they thought of rain
I hate to look into those eyes
And see an ounce of pain
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder and the rain
To quietly pass me by

Oh, sweet child o' mine
Oh, sweet love of mine

I still sing this to Hope. She snuggles into my neck and I rub her back while singing softly. Another favorite for us (if you slow it down) is the chorus to Michael Jackson's Rock with You:

I'm gonna rock with you
All night
Dance you into the sunlight
Rock with you
All night
Rock the night away

I'd love to hear what the rest of you sing to your little ones.