Name some sincere and non-cheesy and good songs about being a parent

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As opposed to songs about being apparent, which would broaden the scope considerably.

"Beautiful Boy" comes to mind. But that's about the boy more than the parent-ness.

Are there any good songs about parenthood?

― Justin, Thursday, 13 October 2005 04:45 (twenty years ago)

"Tears in Heaven"

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Thursday, 13 October 2005 04:51 (twenty years ago)

Well that's a downer.

― Justin, Thursday, 13 October 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

"Hitting You"
"Rufus Is a Tit Man"
"Five Years Old"
all by Loudon Wainwright III
plus
"Not Yet Three" by Jonathan Richman
"Stay Up Late" by Talking Heads
"Outfit" by the Drive-By Truckers

― Taylor, Thursday, 13 October 2005 04:57 (twenty years ago)

Some child-hater always suggests "End of the Rainbow" by Richard Thompson on these threads.

Oh wait, I guess that'd be me, then.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:00 (twenty years ago)

jodi phillis - you've no idea

― vacuum cleaner (electricsound), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:00 (twenty years ago)

I was gonna mention "Stay Up Late." "Creatures of Love," too.

― Justin, Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:04 (twenty years ago)

Yes, Outfit. That's the best one.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:04 (twenty years ago)

randy newman, "memo to my son"

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

Hole - "Heaven Tonight".

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

kinks, "two sisters"

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

Eric Clapton's new album Back Home is a surprisingly good semi-concept album on this theme.

― John Hunter, Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:17 (twenty years ago)

"Little Digger" Liz Phair

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:44 (twenty years ago)

The Coup - "Wear Clean Draws"

I guess opinion is divided on whether XTC's 'Pink Thing' is about a baby or about a weenis.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:45 (twenty years ago)

"'97 Bonnie and Clyde" Eminem

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:46 (twenty years ago)

boy named sue

― nein Socken (nein Socken), Thursday, 13 October 2005 05:52 (twenty years ago)

Wowee zowee -- I had never noticed that "Pink Thing" is interpretable as a baby. I love this with Partridge lyrics, where you catch another meaning, read them over, and notice how carefully he's juggling both. Though in the end this one is kinda 90% penis with just a dash of baby running to the side; who'd lean over a newborn thinking "don't you think it's time you met some female pink thing?"

― nabiscothingy, Thursday, 13 October 2005 06:05 (twenty years ago)

I mean, if he expected people to think this was a song about a baby and then catch on about the penis, he failed pretty miserably.

― nabiscothingy, Thursday, 13 October 2005 06:06 (twenty years ago)

The Features - "That's the Way It's Meant to Be"

― Voodoo Child, Thursday, 13 October 2005 06:09 (twenty years ago)

I'd say Liz Phair's "Whip-Smart" is equally about the child, parenthood, and the parent's pre-parenthood life...

― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 13 October 2005 06:26 (twenty years ago)

William Shatners last album basically.

― Googley Asearch (Toaster), Thursday, 13 October 2005 06:33 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe no-one's mentioned 'Kooks' yet!

― Mog, Thursday, 13 October 2005 07:36 (twenty years ago)

Lovin' Spoonful, Younger Generation

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 13 October 2005 07:57 (twenty years ago)

Kinks "Days"

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 13 October 2005 09:48 (twenty years ago)

Pulp - "A Little Soul"

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Thursday, 13 October 2005 10:00 (twenty years ago)

Beach Boys, When a Man Needs a Woman

... actually cheesy as fuck

― Dadaismus (Dada), Thursday, 13 October 2005 10:02 (twenty years ago)

Beginning of a Great Adventure - Lou Reed. Not whistful, but sincere nonetheless.

― when something smacks of something (dave225.3), Thursday, 13 October 2005 11:08 (twenty years ago)

"sincere and non-cheesy" = no Eminem

― Some Guy, Thursday, 13 October 2005 11:18 (twenty years ago)

"Cat's in the Cradle"

― Some Guy, Thursday, 13 October 2005 11:19 (twenty years ago)

"Isn't she lovely" by Stevie Wonder. Written after the birth of his daughter.

― bsj30 (bsj30), Thursday, 13 October 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

Suzanne Vega - "Birthday" (although that's directly about birth), "World Before Columbus."

Black Box Recorder - "New Baby Boom" (fucked up as usual).

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:01 (twenty years ago)

The Shaggs - "Who Are Parents"

― Brakhage (brakhage), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

Divine Comedy - "Charmed Life"

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:17 (twenty years ago)

nabisco - yeah, I never really heard the baby aspect of "Pink Thing" myself, but when the album came out all the reviews referred to it as a dedication to his newborn. As to the line you cite, in that context I guess it means he wants his son's dating habits to show racial pride. Or something.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:17 (twenty years ago)

"Kooks" by David Bowie

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:27 (twenty years ago)

That isn't cheesy Alex?!??!?!?

― H. Pinter (Dada), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:29 (twenty years ago)

I don't think so. I think it's kinda sweet, but y'know, fuck do I know. I am, however, a parent....and that tends to cloud one's mind on the topic.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:32 (twenty years ago)

"Papa Won't Leave You, Henry" by Nick Cave....izzat better? No cheese to be found there.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:33 (twenty years ago)

Father and Son - Cat Stevens
Your Name is Wild/My Son Cool - Guided by Voices
Beautiful Boy - John Lennon
I Want to Pick You Up - The beach Boys
Forever Young - Bob Dylan

PS, what is cheesy? that which has real emotional content but is purveyed in a style that you think is uncool?

― Jonathan DD, Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:38 (twenty years ago)

"Another Day in Paradise"--Phil Vassar
"Baby Baby," "Hats," "How Can We See That Far"--Amy Grant
"He's My Son"--Mark Schultz
these may be cheesy, but the last two are heartbreakers

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

"Fathers and Sons," the country waltz by Gary Nicholson; best version I've heard is by Del McCoury Band on this year's The Company We Keep: "It's a bridge you can't cross / It's a cross you can't bear / It's a word you can't say, the things you can't change / No matter how much you care / So you do all you can / Then you gotta let go / It's just part of the flow / Of the river that runs / Between fathers and sons"

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

lots of country music to thread, "There Goes My Life" by Kenny Chesney and "Just Another Day In Paradise" by Phil Vassar come to mind first. Maybe "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys."

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 13 October 2005 12:43 (twenty years ago)

"All of My Love" by Zep is purportedly about Robert Plant's love for his son who'd just passed away.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

i can't hear "This Woman's Work" without thinking of birth and kids

blame John Hughes, i guess

― rentboy (rentboy), Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

oh oh "Doing the Best That I Can," off The Payback, always seems to me an anguished song by James Brown for HIS son who was killed in a car wreck during the recording of the album

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

oops, I missed your vassar in the xpost dr phil, sorry.

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

heirloom - bjork

― nein Socken (nein Socken), Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

"It's a bridge you can't cross / It's a cross you can't bear / It's a word you can't say,

Shit, I wish this lyric finished what it started, e.g. "It's a bridge you can't cross / It's a cross you can't bear / It's a bear you can't slay / It's a sleigh you can't ride / It's a ride you can't stop / It's a stop you can't see / It's a sea you can't bridge"

Sorry, I'm feeling silly. Yom Kippur hunger pains, y'all.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

OTM re: Heirloom, it says so much with very few words.

― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

The Silos - "Margaret"
Vulgar Boatmen - "Margaret Says"

― my name is john. i reside in chicago. (frankE), Thursday, 13 October 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

The Reivers - "End of the Day"

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 13 October 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

Good God. I don't dare listen to "There Goes My Life." I have a 2 year old girl, and that song is emotional danger.

― Justin, Thursday, 13 October 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

The Kinks have come up twice, but "Wonderboy." It's a little silly, but seems fairly genuine in its joy.

― mike powell (mike powell), Thursday, 13 October 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

Victor Lumberg - "An Open Letter to My Teenage Son"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Thursday, 13 October 2005 16:30 (twenty years ago)

Low - "In Metal"

Gorgeous and honest and creepy and gorgeous again.

partly hate to see you grow
and just like your baby shoes
wish I could keep your little body
in metal
in metal
in metal
in metal

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Thursday, 13 October 2005 16:31 (twenty years ago)

St. Judy's Comet

― Justin, Thursday, 13 October 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

"papa don't preach"

(or does that not count 'cause the narrator isn't a parent YET?)

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 13 October 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

― Matt Carlson (mattsoncarlhew), Thursday, 13 October 2005 19:40 (twenty years ago)

but wait, the person she's singing to IS a dad, so it works either way!

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 13 October 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

I ought to leave enough hot water
For your morning bath, but I’d not thought
I hate to hear you talk that way
But I can’t bring myself to say I’m sorry
The past is always knocking incessant
Trying to break through into the present
We have to work to keep it out
But I won’t be the first to say it’s over
I used to want to plant bombs at the last night of the proms
But now you’ll find me with the baby, in the bathroom,
With that big shell, listening for the sound of the sea
I steal a kiss from you in the supermarket
I walk you down the aisle, you fill my basket
And through it all, the stick I take is worth it for the love we make
I used to want to plant bombs at the last night of the proms
But now you’ll find me with the baby, in the bathroom,
With that big shell, listening for the sound of the sea,
The baby and me
I stayed in bed, alone, uncertain
Then I met you, you drew the curtain
The sun came up, the trees began to sing
The light shone in on everything.
I love you.

The sun came up, the trees began to sing
The light shone in on everything.
I love you

MMM, such a sweet song (Billy Bragg's "Brickbat").

Slightly more cheesy is Ben Fold's "Gracie" from the new album

― paulhw (paulhw), Thursday, 13 October 2005 21:27 (twenty years ago)

"Billie Jean"?

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 14 October 2005 04:14 (twenty years ago)

wait, no, that's about emphatically NOT being a parent.

― derrick (derrick), Friday, 14 October 2005 04:24 (twenty years ago)

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