What lullabies do you sing to your children?

[Kjlkate]

Just wondered last night as I was warbling away what other people sing to their little darlings? As it's nearly Christmas, I'll soon be into carols (O Little Town of Bethlehem is a good long one for a particularly fretful child) but usually my repertoire contains such favourites as 'Moon River' 'Summertime' 'The Way You Look Tonight' (not sure who by but Fred Astair sings it!) 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' and a couple from Mary Poppins ... Oh, and 'Paper Doll' - that dates from about 1925.
Am I strange? Is everyone else just tucking them in with a quick burst of Hushabye Baby? Please tell me I'm not alone!

When eldest ds was tiny I used to hum/laa, the tune from the old black and white Robinson Crusoe (spelling?!). Remember? The French one with the drop dead gorgeuos Crusoe? Anyway - gorgeousness aside, the tunes were great.

when i lived in darwin my eldest ds used to get whatever songs we were rehearsing in my choral society anything from gospel through blues, folk and classical. poor thing his favourites were definately 'wade in the water' and the wassail song of all things, currently for both boys i sing 'fields of barley'??? (sting) seabird (from the movie some mothers son) but we try to vary our songs.

Brilliant to find other people singing bizzarre songs to their children.Two of our favourites are Paddy McGintys Goat, and another that goes "you can come and see the baby if you care to call,he's lying by his mammy in a wee white shawl"...but I don't know what its called!!
I was very pleased to hear that someone else has heard of the Liverpool lullaby.We sing that too sometimes.Joni Mitchell songs are good too, especially the 'circle game' which always made me sleepy!!

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I'll ask my DH as soon as he gets in from football tonight!

I have a favourite brother
And his Christian name is Paul.
Now he's lately joined the football club,
'Cos he's mad about football.
Every Saturday he's out there
Come rain or snow or shine
[couple of lines I can't remember....]

For he's football crazy, football mad
And a football it has taken away
The little bit of sense hhe had.
It takes a dozen servants
To wash his clothes and scrub,
Since Paul became a member of
that terrible Football Club!

I always sings Seeker songs to my dd (my Mum sang them to me too). But I just can't remember the words to morning town ride (my fav). Can anyone help with that? (Mooma?) I just sing the same bit over and over - poor dd

One of my favourites, too although ds has forbidden me to sing it as thinks my voice sounds so awful!

Train whistle blowin'
Makes a sleepy noise
Underneath their blankets
Go all the girls and boys

Rockin' rollin' ridin'
Out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown
Many miles away

Driver at the engine
Fireman rings the bell
Sandman swings the lantern
To say that all is well

Rockin' rollin' ridin'
Out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown
Many miles away

Maybe it is raining
Where our train will ride
But all the little travellers
Are warm and snug inside

Rockin' rollin' ridin'
Out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown
Many miles away.....

Aaaaahhhh! Can anyone sing that last verse without coming over a bit tearful?

Ooh, beat me to it, ks ? someone interrupted me with some work ? and I forgot that last bit too.

Oh, they don't make 'em like they used to. Remember Val Doonican and Paddy McGinty's Goat? The diamond-patterned sweater, the rocking chair and that twinkly smile....

"Ease your whiskers, rest your paws
Pies and puddings fill the stores
Gently dream the night away
Till sunshine brings another day"

From "Autumn Story" the Brambly Hedge tale where Primrose gets lost in the dark wood.
I know my dd is 6 now but I can't help it, she's still "mummy's baby" (feel free to vomit)

The song that mummy elephant sings to Dumbo- My son loved it and I had to sit and watch the video with the remote control on pause to write down all the words- parental dedication or what! (that was in one child days though!)

KS- it was hard!!!!

ks, do you remember The Carnival Is Over? Another weepie! You are so right about Judith Durham's voice - gives me goosebumps.

When my Ds was a baby I used to sing to him "hush little baby" while he was having his nighttime bottle. I havent done it for ages then a little while ago while ds was being all clingy because he was ill, I said your acting like a baby, he climbed into my arms and i sang it to him. I was shocked when he replied "no mummy, I do not have my drink". I was quite suprised at it was at least 8 months since I last sung it. Was also suprised as I am tone deaf and when I usually sing DS very kindly puts his hand in my mouth to stop me

Miggy it's called Baby of Mine, I love it too, and it makes me cry every time, never get to the end of it when I sing to mine (thankfully they would probably say)!

I made up a tune to Kipling's Seal Lullaby to sing to my DSs.
"Now hush thee my baby,
The night is behind us
and dark is the water that sparkled so green
Where billow meets billow,
there soft be thy pillow,
Ah weary flipperling rest at thy ease
No storm shall awake thee
Nor shark overtake thee
Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas."

One I'd love to be able to sing is the one the mother gorilla sings to Tarzan near the start of the Disney film (don't know the words - must sit down with the DVD and the subtitles on!). I also use a Robbie Williams song that goes
"Know no fear, I will still love you tomorrow
Bend my ear, I'm not gonna go away
You are loved, so You are love so why do you shed a tear
Know no fear you will see heaven from here"

ks, you mean I'm on my own here, sobbing?

In case anyone is interested (when youve all finished sobbing!)

BABY MINE

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine.

Little one when you play
Don't you mind what you say
Leet those eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine.

If they knew sweet little you
They'd end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they'd give just for
The chance to hold you.

From your head to your toes
Your not much, goodness knows
But your so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine.