Song, Heritage, and Bambini

[browngirl]

So, I sing to my small redheaded roommates a lot. In general little children like being sung to, and both of these particular children are very musical (J sings quite beautifully already).

I often sing while staring into a gaping baby maw trying to soothe an angry child, so I sing whatever comes first to mind, which is usually one of the hymns I learned when I was Joshua's age or a bit older. I feel a little guilty about this, since their parents are raising them as Jewish, so I figured I should learn some other songs to have in my mental queue when trying to calm a hollering baby.

I could certainly look up some songs from Hanukkah and beyond, but I wanted people's perspectives on this (what should I do, what should I not do, etc), so I thought I'd post something.

Comments

[chillyrodent.livejournal.com]

I would think their parents would be the safest source of what's okay.

When my son was little, and I was desperate to soothe him, I hit upon Superstar, and it stuck. Has no particular family meaning, it just shut him up.

[lomedet.livejournal.com]

do your grown-up roommates do the shul/chavura/praying in community thing? Tagging along with them for a shabbat or two, or getting them to teach you their favorite bits of liturgical whatnot, might give you the balance you're looking for.

and also? I think it's perfectly possible to be an excellent Jew and still appreciate how beautiful Christian music can be, so unless their parents are expressing concern, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

I can think of one appropriate filk song--"Close Your Eyes"

[flabosib.livejournal.com]

I used to make up songs often making things fit the immediate situation. Okay, not quite filks, but my daughter liked them.

[anahata56.livejournal.com]

I know that they're people and not puppies, but it might work...!

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I've got many tapes and songbooks if you want to borrow. Singing Jewish songs IS among the things I get paid to do.

[ailbhe]

To the tune of Toreador - "Shut up you screaming hijjus baby girl/boy, don't hurt my ears, don't hurt my ears. Pleeeeeeeease stop screaming, please please please stop screaming, please stop screaming baby giiiiiiiirl, stop stop stop stop stop stop, stop stop stop stop, stop stop stop stop - stop - stop!"

Er.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

I think it's wonderfully sensitive of you to even be worrying about this issue at the moments when you're the one calming the hollering redhead(s). :-)

I don't know what's in your repertoire of hymns, but if you have ones that talk about God rather than about Jesus, if you see what I mean, those are most likely acceptable sentiments.

But we could brainstorm a short list and then schedule a sing-along evening of "teach browngirl some soothing Hebrew songs", I'd totally come pitch in on that. :-D

[pagawne.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry too much, I had rather odd songs sung to me, Hawaiian War Chants, the Aggie War Chant(strictly football), etc, and I survived nicely.

One old one my grandmother sang often was By By Low, I know I used that often for my girls. Folk music works nicely. Many of the Jewish folk songs I remember hearing were very gentle, although I have no idea what was being said, they sounded gentle.

[jostajam.livejournal.com]

My default song to sing to a screaming baby is Mammal by TMBG. Also, the Moggy song from Eric Bogle and Little Gomez. I had PPD and trouble verbalizing to my babies, so I sang to them almost constantly. It didn't really matter what. Elder and Younger Son are past the screaming baby stage, but I think if they stopped screaming, I wouldn't have cared what you were singing to them.

[redbird]

I'd go for stuff that's not religious at all. Things that come to mind (other than the suggestion of TMBG) include "Suliram," an Indonesian lullaby I got off a Weavers album, and singable pop music, whichever you happen to know and like, maybe some Beatles.

[eustaciavye.livejournal.com]

Simon and Garfunkel are often soothing.
SJ Tucker - Manticore's Lullaby or Alligator in the House

[jenny_evergreen]

I make stuff up. I also alter the lyrics and use melodies that are familiar and easy (in my case, often Chrismas songs).
As a parent, I'm not wild about extra exposure to already dominant paradigms I don't agree with, but I very actively and seriously take intentions into consideration and will tolerate quite a bit from people I love who have good intentions. :)
You, being actually a good singer, could probably make up WAAAAY better stuff than I do. (Although sometimes just "go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep little one" is all one can manage!)

[flabosib.livejournal.com]

Lavender's blue dilly dilly
Lavender's green
When I am Queen dilly dilly
You shall be King/Queen [depending on which redhead you are singing to]
Who told you so dilly dilly
Who told you so
'Twas my own heart dilly dilly
That told me so

[cereta.livejournal.com]

I've worked to limit myself to songs I know are largely based on the Hebrew Bible, even if they were written for the Catholic Church ;). My favorite is "I will Play Before the Lord", which I love anyway.

On a totally unrelated note

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

...we got your card today! Thank you so much!

Next year, in Massachusetts!

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I sing to my baby niece all the time -- I have been singing old folk tunes and whatever I can remember. Recently I've started singing silly songs from the early 1900's, especially when I found piano accompaniment online! :) I can't wait to sing again next week when she comes down again.

[kyttn.livejournal.com]

First, thank you so much for your wonderful day-brightening cards.

Secondly, the song I sing most often to calm fussy babies (and it works amazingly well) is Twa Corbies. I used to sing it in the church nursery... always hoping a parent wouldn't pay too close attention to the words. I also sing "The Lady" and a beauty and the beast song (can't remember the title) which I learned from a Heather Alexander album. Then I've got one lullaby that I wrote that I sing on occasion. "Twa Corbies" works best, though.

[girlinthemoon.livejournal.com]

Hi! I followed you here from dandelion_diva's journal. I love that you're trying to respect their culture. My favorite Hebrew song to use as a lullaby is Eili, Eili. If you don't know it, you may be able to find a recording of it, and if you want, I could write the lyrics out.