Lullabies for Dads to Sing: A List of Hip Songs for Cool Dads

Raisins and Almonds (Rozhinkes mit Mandlen) is a traditional Jewish lullaby with many known versions.  There is a popular version is from the 1882 opera Shulamith by Abraham Goldfaden, and also an instrumental violin version by Itzhak Perlman that is particularly lovely.

The white goat in this Yiddish lullaby brings raisins and almonds, most likely symbolizing the sweetness if life that parents hope for their children.

Raisins and Almonds

To my little one’s cradle in the night,
Comes a little goat snowy and white,
The goat will trot to the market,
While mother her watch does keep,
Bringing back raisins and almonds,
Sleep my little one sleep.

To my little one’s cradle in the night,
Comes a little goat snowy and white,
The goat will trot to the market,
While father’s watch does keep,
Bringing back raisins and almonds,
Sleep my little one sleep.

Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) is a 1980 song written and performed by John Lennon for his only child with Yoko Ono, Sean. Paul McCartney has said it is one of his favorite Lennon songs.

Beautiful Boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way, it’s getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
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
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

A traditional English folk song from the 1800s, Dance to Your Daddy, is a cute little lullaby that only a dad can sing. The song is also known as When the Boat Comes In, as mothers often comforted their children and themselves when the men were at sea, awaiting the boat’s return.

Dance to Your Daddy

Dance to your Daddy, my little laddie
Dance to your Daddy, my little man
Thou shalt have a fish and thou shalt have a fin
Thou shalt have a codlin when the boat comes in
Thou shalt have haddock baked in a pan
Dance to your Daddy, my little man

Forever Young is a song written by Bob Dylan for his son Jesse, born in 1966. The lullaby conveys a father’s dreams that his child will remain kind and strong.

Forever Young

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay
Forever young

Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay
Forever young

Good Night is a song by the Beatles, composed by John Lennon, co-credited to Paul McCartney, and sung by Ringo Starr.  Lennon wrote the song for his then five-year-old song, Julian. The music was performed as an orchestral arrangement conducted by George Martin. It is the last song on the Beatles’ 1968 White Album.

Good Night

Now it’s time to say good night
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Close your eyes and I’ll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the moon begins to shine
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Close your eyes and I’ll close mine
Good night sleep tight
Now the sun turns out his light
Good night sleep tight
Dream sweet dreams for me
Dream sweet dreams for you.

Good night good night everybody
Everybody everywhere
Good night.

Originally a nursery rhyme, The Sandman Lullaby makes a perfect bedtime song for your little engineer. The tune is also known as Hush! Here comes the Dream Man, recorded in 1930 by Evelyn Griffiths and Master Charles Hawtrey.

Sandman’s Coming

The Sandman’s coming in his train of cars
With moonbeam windows and with wheels of stars

So hush you little ones and have no fear
The man in the moon he is the engineer

The railroad track it is a moonbeam bright
That leads right up into the starry night

So come you little ones and run up the stairs
Put on your ‘jamas and say your prayers

And ride with Mr. Sandman
Ride with Mr. Sandman
‘Til daylight comes again
An you’ll see all the wonders of wonderland
In the Sandman’s Train

She’s a Rainbow is a 1967 song by the Rolling Stones from their album Their Satanic Majesties Request. Some consider it the prettiest song that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards ever wrote.

She’s a Rainbow

She comes in colors ev’rywhere
She combs her hair
She’s like a rainbow
Coming, colors in the air
Oh, everywhere
She comes in colors

Have you seen her dressed in blue?
See the sky in front of you
And her face is like a sail
Speck of white so fair and pale
Have you seen a lady fairer?

Three Little Birds is a song by Bob Marley and the Wailers from their 1977 album Exodus. The song is often thought to be named “Don’t Worry About a Thing” or “Every Little Thing is Gonna Be Alright.”

Three Little Birds

Don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing’ don’t worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright

Rise up this mornin’
Smiled with the risin’ sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying’, this is my message to you

This classic American children’s song has been around since the 1930s. Dad’s will love the Johnny Cash recording, so go ahead and sing it with a little twang!

You are My Sunshine

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.

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