Lullabies - If You Can't Beat 'em Join 'em

I was driving the 6-year old somewhere a couple of days ago and we were listening to Judy and David's Livin' in a Shoe on the CD player (a great children's album that my older two daughters also loved 16ish years ago). That's when J&D's "Lullaby" came on. Please take a moment to skim the lyrics below:

Just half as old as the day is new
Into this world we welcome you
All must seem so strange to your open eyes
But all your fears I'll rock away
And though you'll be too old one day
For now I'll fumble through a lullaby...

Lullaby, fall now softly away from the day
Lullaby, gentle dreams will come your way
As I sing a lullaby

Today you spoke my name to me
It seems like somehow suddenly
The world is spinning faster and the days all fly
But still, today when you were scared
You came to me to dry your tears
And calm you with your favourite lullaby

One day soon you'll be too old
To stay at home... and so it goes
A family of your own will fill your life
But think of me from time to time
And know that still down deep inside
I'm singing you to sleep, your lullaby.

So anyways, I'm driving along, and for some reason the road is getting all blurry, the 6-year old in the back seat has been replaced with two girls - one 4 one 6, and I'm feeling every one of my 50 years.

Got me thinking. Why is it that lullaby writers insist on having us sing songs to (and with) our kids about growing up, leaving childhood behind, getting old and feeble, and so on? Other examples:

Billy Joel's Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel):

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on...
They never die
That's how you
And I
Will be 

James Taylor (You Can Close Your Eyes):

So close your eyes
You can close your eyes, it's all right
I don't know no love songs
And I can't sing the blues anymore
But I can sing this song
And you can sing this song when I'm gone

John Lennon (Beautiful Boy):

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly wait
To see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient
'Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime

Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

And as you can see from the examples above, Dads seem to be the biggest culprits.

In that spirit then, I now present two brand, spanking new lullabies. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? One's a "beat 'em" and one's a "join 'em". Enjoy.

Shut Up You Tiny Creep (a "beat 'em" by David)

Daddy's got to go soon, he's got much better things to do;
Then lying on your bed and catering to you.
I came up just to be here while you drifted off to sleep;
But it's been well past an hour now, so shut up you tiny creep.
 
Why won't you go to sleep, my love? Why won't you stop the show?
The game's been on for hours now and Daddy's got to go.
You cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry;
The snot upon your lip, once fresh and new's already dry.
 
Daddy's got to go soon, he's got much better things to do;
Then lying on your bed and catering to you.
I came up just to be here while you drifted off to sleep;
But it's been well past an hour now, so shut up you tiny creep.
 
Even when you're older, you won't give back these nights I gave;
And another night like this will likely put me in my grave.
So let's please stop this torture, relax and please be calm;
Or this will be the last 'Girls' Night Out' for your dear Mom.

Daddy Won't Be Here for Long (a "join 'em" by David):

Sweet, sweet child it's bedtime now, the time to go to sleep;

You're just a baby now, your toys and books o'er night will keep.

But lying here beside you as you let go of the day;

I can't but think that time will fly and wash all this away.
 

Each day that you get older, is a day of Daddy's too;

He'll be old when you're still young and you could be cleaning up his poo.

So cherish him for now, as he sings this lovely song;

And remember as you're listening that he won't be here for long.

Sweet, sweet child it's bedtime now, so rest your weary head;
You're just a baby now and not worried 'bout when I'm dead.

But lying here beside you as you're drifting into bliss;

I can't but think that time will one day erase all of this.
 

Each day that you get older, is a day of Daddy's too;

He'll be old when you're still young and you could be cleaning up his poo.

So cherish him for now, as he sings this lovely song;

And remember as you're listening that he won't be here for long.
 

Sweet, sweet child it's bedtime now, so say goodnight at last;

You're just a baby now and that will go away all too fast.

And lying here beside you as the sandman does his thing;

I'll not think about how little time is left for me to sing.