You Should Learn Some New Songs

On our car 16 hour ride to Ontario I entertained our 3.5 month old with my arsenal of songs. Sometimes, when I am playing with Fin, out of my mouth comes a new children's song, one that I hadn't thought of in years. Other times, I start a song and somewhere along the way I forget the words and wind up humming along to the tune, then pick it up again and lately, I just make some words up.

My repertoire is varied; Finley likes everything from the Dead and Dylan to Britney and Rhianna and as far as kids songs go I thought I knew quite a few. I have the nursery rhymes down and a handful of other great songs about sharing and peanut butter and jelly, little worms, skipping songs, the old lady who swallowed a spider, Bunny Fou Fou and teddy bears who picnic. It doesn't matter that I can't carry a tune Finley loves the sound of my voice and somehow my singing is both entertaining and soothing to her.

Fin's favorite lullaby is the ONLY lullaby I know all the words to. It's our song. Every time she is fussy and having a hard time going to sleep I sing: Ann Murray's Mocking Bird song from the album There's A Hippo in My Bathtub. It was my favorite album as a kid.

Our car ride version went something like this:

Michelle (singing)

Hush Little Baby Don't Say a Word Momma's Gonna buy you a Mocking bird.

Steve (Speaking)

No she's not!

Finley (screaming)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhieaaaaaaaaaiaaiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaahhhhh

Michelle

If that mocking won't sing. Momma's gonna buy diamond ring.

Steve

No she's not!

Michelle

If that diamond ring turns brass momma's gonna buy you a looking glass.

Steve

No she's not.

Finley (screaming)

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhieaaaaaaaaaiaaiiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaahhhhh

Michelle

If that looking glass is broke, Momma's gonna buy you a billy goat.

Steve

Well maybe that - that's cool - you can buy that.

Michelle

If that billy goat won't pull Momma's gonna buy you a cart and bull.

Steve

I like the goat better.

Michelle

If that cart and bull turn over, Momma's gonna buy you a dog named Rover.

Steve

You have to get rid of Cecil then.

Michelle

If that dog named Rover won't bark, Momma's gonna buy you a horse and cart.

Steve

You don't want a dog to bark. You might as well keep Cecil.

Michelle (Big Finish)

If that horse and cart fall down, You'll still be the sweetest little baby in tooooown.

Steve

Why don't you learn some new songs?

Or at the very least make up some other stuff to buy her and sing about.