lmgervais Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 "You Are My Sunshine" is a great song, but I've always found it rather depressing. Am I the only one who thinks this? Maybe I just have a weird outlook. Have you read the entire lyrics - they are depressing: You Are My Sunsine The other night dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms, but when I woke dear, I was mistaken, and I hung my head and cried. 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'll always love you and make you happy if you will only say the same but if you leave me to love another you'll regret it all some day 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. You told me once dear you really loved me that no one else could come between but now you've left me and love another you have shattered all my dreams. 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. Also makes me thing of songs like 'Ring around the rosy' which was about the Black Plague and 'rock a bye baby' which has several possible meanings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janet Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I love that song, and never thought of it as depressing. My grandfather used to sing it to me when I was little; he'd sing us both to sleep. My mother and I sang it in simple harmony. It has such a lovely, lilting and easy-to sing melody, and I don't think that small children pay much attention to the lyrics. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookmarm Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 My boys loved Hush Little Baby as a lullaby. When our sister cats Maisy and Lily were tiny, I'd even sing them to sleep (yes, weird, but it worked. Kittens can be hard as puppies to settle). This is what "Bicycle Built for Two" would do to them within minutes. I changed the lyrics to (Maisy, Maisy, given me your answer true. I'm half Crazy...". Lily would have 'Silly' in her version). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmgervais Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Oh! The kittens are so adorable! I want to kiss them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodland_miniatures Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Awwwwww....those babies are adorable!! And totally limp.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodland_miniatures Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Oh, and Gayle, you shouldn't feel weird, or at least you're not alone in being weird. I used to read Beatrix Potter stories to a stressed-out cat every time I'd come home after being out for a while. She'd been left to starve all alone in a dark apartment not long before I got her and she just couldn't stand being left alone. Sadly, she'd also been horridly abused so I couldn't cuddle her, could hardly touch her at all. So I read and read to her....maybe I should have sung to her, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 I used to sing(?) to my boys when they were babies, things like "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie" and "Alouette", "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" and "All Around the Mulberry Bush", "Dixie", "Rockaby Baby", of course "Puff the Magic Dragon" (it's DH's & my SONG!) and Hush Little Baby" for as many verses as I could remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shy Spirit Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Every night at bedtime, I let the children choose three lullabies each. I sang to them each in turn, in their own rooms. (They also loved to hear stories from when they were "little". ) Golden Slumbers was a popular choice, Hush Little Baby (don't say a word), Toot Sweets and Hushabye Mountain - both from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. That movie really did have a lot of good songs in it! The following four songs were probably their most favourite. There were many others, but I can't think of them just now. Toora loora loora Toora, loora, loora Toora, loora, li Toora, loora, loora Hush, now, don't you cry Ah, Toora, loora, loora Toora, loora, li Toora, loora, loora It's an Irish lullaby Over in Killarney, many years ago My mother sang this song to me in tones so sweet and low Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way And I'd give the world if she could sing that song to me this day Toora, loora, loora Toora, loora, li Toora, loora, loora Hush, now, don't you cry Ah, Toora, loora, loora Toora, loora, li Toora, loora, loora It's an Irish lullaby Alphabet Lullaby A, You're adorable . . . B, You're so beautiful . . . C, You're a cutie full of charms . . . D, You're a darling and . . . E, You're exciting . . . F, You're a feather in my arms . . . G, You look good to me . . . H, You're so heavenly . . . I, You're the one I idolize . . . J, We're like Jack and Jill . . . K, You are so kiss-able . . . L, Is the love-light in your eyes . . . M, N, O, P . . . I could go on all day . . . Q, R, S, T . . . Alphabetically speaking you're OK. U, Made my life complete . . . V, Means you're very sweet . . . W, X, Y, Z . . . It's fun to wander through, The alphabet with you, To tell you what you mean to me. Close to you Why do birds suddenly appear Every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be Close to you. Why do stars fall down from the sky Every time you walk by? Just like me, they long to be Close to you. On the day that you were born The angels got together And decided to create a dream come true So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold And starlight in your eyes of blue. That is why all the girls in town Follow you all around. Just like me, they long to be Close to you. On the day that you were born The angels got together And decided to create a dream come true So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold And starlight in your eyes of blue. That is why all the girls in town ("boys in town", when I sang it to my daughter) Follow you all around. Just like me, they long to be Close to you. Just like me (Just like me) They long to be Close to you. Wahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you. Wahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you. Hahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you. Lahhhhhhhhhhh, close to you. Dream a little dream of me Stars shining bright above you Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you" Birds singin' in the sycamore trees Dream a little dream of me Say nighty-night and kiss me Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me While I'm alone and blue as can be Dream a little dream of me Stars fading but I linger on dear Still craving your kiss I'm longin' to linger till dawn dear Just saying this Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you But in your dreams whatever they be Dream a little dream of me (instrumental break) Stars shining up above you Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you" Birds singin' in the sycamore trees Dream a little dream of me Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you But in your dreams whatever they be Dream a little dream of me Yes, dream a little dream of me Oh, and our little girl cat Casey just loves to be sung to! The higher notes especially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookmarm Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Rosalind, those are lovely!! My mom in law sang "All through the night" to her boys, but it wasn't a familiar song to me and I think I've forgotten the words. I'm thinking Peter Paul and Mary may have had a version. One short poem my fellows loved was when we would rock and look out at the night sky: "I see the Moon and the moon sees me. God bless the moon and God bless me." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookmarm Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 PP&M were the best for sweet folk songs. I forgot that I sang "Johnny's gone for a Soldier", and "I wish I were a tiny sparrow...." to the boys. I tried to find songs low enough for my horrible singing voice (thankfully they never seemed to mind). Gordon Lightfoot had some good ones too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Gayle, I don't think kids care how horribly Momma sounds when she sings to them! I snag "All through the Night" to ours with the words I could remember Sleep, my child, and Peace attend thee all through the night. Guardian angels God will send thee all through the night. ...and I have long forgotten all the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shy Spirit Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 I googled "All Through the Night" for the lyrics: By Sir Harold Boulton Sleep my child and peace attend thee, All through the night Guardian angels God will send thee, All through the night; Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and vale in slumber sleeping, I my loved ones' watch am keeping, All through the night. Angels watching, e'er around thee, All through the night Midnight slumber close surround thee, All through the night Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and vale in slumber sleeping I my loved ones' watch am keeping, All through the night While the moon her watch is keeping, All through the night While the weary world is sleeping, All through the night O'er thy spirit gently stealing, Visions of delight revealing Breathes a pure and holy feeling, All through the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bookmarm Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Oh, that's it Rosalind! It IS a pretty song! I can imagine HR singing this to her boys when they were little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurferGurl Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 My son is almost 28, and still gets drowsy when he hears House at Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins. I also used to sing the lullaby that James Taylor wrote - Sweet Baby James - I just changed 'beer' to 'milk'. We used to listen to Hap Palmer at our preschool - easy fun songs. I guess you can still find his music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jokelly Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Hap Palmer is still around. One of my professors in Grad school turned me on to him. His stuff isn't as well known now, but you can still buy some of his stuff on cd. The Wiggles have taken over the preschool set now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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