The 5: Lullabies Written by Famous Dads for Their Kids

This Week on The 5: Dads Who Wrote Songs to Sing Their Babies to Sleep

This week’s five is in honor of Father’s Day.  Five singer songwriter dads who wrote and sang special songs especially for their son or daughter, to help sing them to sleep.  A beautiful honor usually reserved for hitting on girls..

• Good Night My Angel by Billy Joel for his daughter Alexa Ray Joel. Billy Joel wrote this little lullaby for his daughter Alexa Ray. He explained that he wrote the song at a difficult time for her.  He was in the course of leaving her mother, and she was asking him about death. He wanted the song to convey the fact that he would always be with her in her heart even after death. The meaning behind the song may seem heavy but it’s a sweet little lullaby. Click here for the YouTube or scroll down to listen.  Alexis Ray Joel is 26 years old and now a singer/ songwriter like her dad and has been a spokesperson for Prell Shampoo like her Mom, Christie Brinkley.
• Kooks by David Bowie for his son Zowie Bowie ( Duncan Jones ).   David Bowie wrote what may be the first alternative lullaby. He wrote the song to let young Zowie know that he was born into a family of freaks but while the world may look at them differently, he could count on a life of love and adventure. Even if he eventually changes his name from Zowie to Duncan, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he was indeed raised by Kooks.  Click here for the YouTube or scroll down to listen.  Duncan Jones (41) is now a successful film director with Moon and Source Code to his credit.
• Beautiful Boy by John Lennon for his son Sean Lennon.  This one is as sweet as a lullaby can be, but it’s bittersweet for John’s fans.  John Lennon was one of the most famous Rock Stars in the world when he put it all aside to become the first truly famous stay-at-home dad. You only have to listen to this song once to know that he enjoyed that role immensely.  Click here for the YouTube or scroll down to listen.  Sean Lennon is now a 36 year musician who has recorded solo albums, film scores and produced music for other artists.
• St. Judy’s Comet by Paul Simon for his son Harper Simon.  This may be the most specific lullaby ever written, but Paul Simon is nothing if not a specific songwriter. Sure , if you sing this to a child you may have to explain what St. Judy’s Comet is.  And you might also have to explain that you aren’t really going to wake him up in the middle of the night to see it but the song is so beautiful well worth it.  Click here for the YouTube or scroll down to listen. Harper Simon is a 39 year old musician and producer.  He has recorded a solo album.
• You Can Close Your Eyes by James Taylor for his daughter Sally Taylor.   This may be a tad of a cheat. There are conflicting reports that either James wrote this for Sally or he wrote it before she was born and sung her to sleep with it later. We are keeping it either way because it’s beautiful and it’s the most traditional lullaby on the whole list.  Click here for the YouTube or scroll down to listen.  Sally Taylor( 38) is a singer songwriter and has also performed with her Dad, James Taylor and her Mom Carly Simon.  She’s also started The Tranquility Project to help remove land mines.

Billy Joel

David Bowie

John Lennon

Paul Simon

James Taylor