Lullaby and Goodnight

In March of 2005 I became a father for the first time when my daughter was born. Three years later in April of 2008, our son was born. I was beyond thrilled to be a dad and all it entailed.

Part of that was bedtime and helping my kids fall asleep. Sitting in a glider chair, holding my kids, I found myself struggling to find the right song to sing. Regular "lullabies" just didn't do it for me. Frankly, they're too short and too boring.

A study conducted by a doctoral student from the Université de Montréal found that lullabies help lull babies to sleep for three reasons: they help regulate the emotions of the baby or child, they work to foster a stronger bond between child and parent, and lullabies help establish a routine.

So I set out to create nighttime playlists for my kids. Something I could sing along with (quietly) and later, play for them when I left the room.

Like any playlist, you don't want to peak too soon (even with babies) or get bored by it a few songs into it. With a lullaby playlist, you'll also need to be ready and mix it up at some point. Your child may grow weary of what you've picked. So here's my ultimate (ever changing) Goodnight Playlist:

- Each Coming Night - Iron & Wine - It's soothes you with it's whisper vocals and gentle banjo playing - Despite the fact that the central idea of the song is "what will people think of me when I'm gone?"

- Sweet Child O' Mine - Taken By Trees - Yes, the Guns N' Roses song. Just...quieter. The piano and voice of Victoria Bergsman builds from the start to a sweeping ending.

- Everything'll Be Alright (Will's Lullaby) - Joshua Radin - No matter what lullaby playlist you're putting together, one of Radin's songs should be on it. This one just happens to have the word "lullaby" in it, so that helps. Perfect for when a tough day has ended and you can just fall into your child's eyes.

- Watch Me - Labi Siffre - Honestly, this one was added after my kids had grown a bit - Thanks to the show "This Is Us". A song that touches on love being the strongest force in an unjust world. Something good to tell our little ones.

- Three Little Birds - Bob Marley - Despite the line "Rise up this mornin' - Smiled with the risin' sun" it's a sweet tune that reminds us that "every little thing is gonna be alright".

- The Wind - Cat Stevens - A simple yet profound calming, short tune.

- Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez - A song that has been used to convey many emotions on TV shows (and commercials) from babies being born to saying goodbye to a loved one. It's vocal/acoustic guitar relationship glides.

- You - A Great Big World - Another one that came out after my kids had grown a bit. C'mon, Ian Axel (lead singer) literally wrote the song about the birth of his son Bowie. It's a must on any lullaby playlist.

- If You Need To, Keep Time on Me - Fleet Foxes - The Foxes create songs that are like a warm blanket or a long-lasting hug. So, swaddle up and let this one flow through the speakers.

- Forever Young - Rhiannon Giddens/Iron & Wine - This take on the Bob Dylan classic that he wrote for his eldest son Jesse, in 1966. This version closed out the final show for the series "Parenthood" in 2015.

- Hold Your Head Up High - Darlingside - Damn you "This Is Us" - Another song from the show makes my list. It's used for a very sad scene in the show. The band describes it as a song that "tackles adversity and hopelessness through the story of a father and son". I love the trumpet that comes in about 2/3 of the way through. It's beautiful.

- Tiger Striped Sky - Roo Panes - A delicate tune that, even if you don't know the lyrics, is easy to hum along to when you're deep in bedtime.

- Time After Time - Cassandra Wilson - I've always loved this song, all versions. Wilson's interpretation slows it down even more and her smokey voice drifts over the sparse music.

- Shine - Benjamin Francis Leftwich - In 2014, Spotify named the song the most addictive track of the year. The chorus hits the right perspective when you're staring down at your child. "I hope you find the love that's true - So the morning light can shine on you - I hope you find what you're looking for - So your heart is warm forever more"

- Imagine - Jack Johnson - Softball of a song to put on here, right? Well, dreamland isn't far off with Johnson's version. Bonus points for it being an easy one to sing along with too.

- Stand By Me - Tracy Chapman - Performed on one of Letterman's last shows, Chapman's voice shines throughout the performance.

- Lullaby - The Chicks - I mean, it's in the damn title. The beautiful harmonizing set in front of dreamy music is a lovely match. Trivia - The song was co-written by The Chicks with Semisonic lead singer/songwriter Dan Wilson.

- Fade Into You - Mazzy Star - This dreamy pop song from this alternative band from Southern California was everywhere in 1993. So it's a great time to bring it back now. Maybe at this point in bedtime, you're nodding off a bit too in that chair. Nothing wrong with that...

- Birds and Ships - Billy Bragg (featuring Natalie Merchant) - With words from Woody Guthrie and vocals by the angelic Natalie Merchant, this (technically) Billy Bragg song reminds me of the folk music that I grew up listening to on my dad's turntable.

- Landslide - Fleetwood Mac - It's one of the most beautiful songs every written and performed. Stevie Nicks said during Oprah's Master Class that the song is about when Nicks was faced with the fear of losing everything for a dream.

So that's the list. What do you think? What do you listen to when you're falling asleep? What do you sing to your child? Let me know and your favorite may end up on the mixtape - because isn't that what is all about? Sharing music we love with each other.

Goodnight - Sleep tight!