Lullaby Love.
I have a “Top 5 Favorite Lullaby List”. Our little one may not be able to voice her opinion just yet, but that’s too bad - I mean, uhh, hopefully, she’ll come to appreciate these songs as “our” top 5 someday and possibly use a song or two from the same list for her future children, always remembering that they were our special songs.
Anyway, here they are. And yes, they are in a particular order.
#1. The Rain Song - Led Zeppelin
Not only is Houses of the Holy one of my favorite Zeppelin albums overall, but The Rain Song has always been my all-time favorite Zeppelin song. As a kid, I would pop in my cassette (yes, I said cassette… remember those?!) and let the gorgeous sounds of Page, Plant, Bonham and JPJ lull me to sleep. I’ve since decided to pass along this special song to my baby girl in hopes that she, too, will find peace and beauty in the melodies and lyrics as I always have.
#2. Clair de Lune - Debussy
This is the song I chose to have playing over and over again while I was in labor with E. Something about this beautiful song reached deep inside of me and took me away to a place where I could imagine the end result of labor; holding my beautiful, peaceful, gentle baby - and really got me through some of the most incredible contractions with ease and gave me a really good understanding of just how strong my body was.
#3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Jewel’s version or Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s ukelele version
What’s not to love about either version of a genuine classic?! The original version, sung by Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz is a song I have belted out many-a-times (to myself, of course. I know better than to subject innocent bystanders to my horrific singing.) and both Jewel and Israel have managed to put their own twists on it, without ruining the original one bit.
#4. In My Life - The Beatles
So, I’ve been a Beatles fan since I could say “Ringo” (and he IS my favorite Beatle) and “In My Life” is a song that really connects with me as a mother more than it ever has in my life (haha, get it?!) before. This is because it puts into song what it means to have had a life before the biggest love walked in - a totally different life, where there was love, happiness and vibrancy before - but unlike anything that exists now… at THIS moment. My daughter is exactly that… the greatest love of my life, but that doesn’t mean I will ever forget the roads that have led me to this moment as her mother. If it weren’t for my past, I wouldn’t be the mother I am today. It’s ok… go grab a tissue. I won’t judge!
#5. My Little Girl - Jack Johnson
Really, anything by Jack Johnson rocks to settle down and mellow out to, but this song in particular came out right before E was born and when I first heard it after she arrived, I cried… hard. The lyrics are wonderful and the tune is perfect for a nice wind-down. My favorite lyrics from the song are as follows: “You don’t ever have to feel lonely/You will never lose any tears/You don’t have to feel any sadness/When you look back on the years/How can I look you in the eyes/And tell you such big lies/The best I can do is try to show you/How to love with no fear”.
So, what are YOUR favorite lullabies? We’re always looking to expand our list!
