You'd think there'd be tons, but off the top of my head, I'm having trouble coming up with much. Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Gordon Lightfoot, Loudon Wainright... Any other ideas?
I did see an earlier thread about songs about childbirth. But I'm thinking specifically about songs people have done about their sons and/or daughters.
― Chonus, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:50 (fifteen years ago)
Bowie
― sonofstan, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:50 (fifteen years ago)
Neil Young has several songs about his various kids ...
― tylerw, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:51 (fifteen years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIf2zyDoWn8
― لوووووووووووووووووووول (lex pretend), Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:51 (fifteen years ago)
Joni Mitchell (Little Green)
― sonofstan, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:52 (fifteen years ago)
Just off the top of my head: Eminem, Art Alexakis/Everclear, Will Smith, Stevie Wonder, Mike Cooley of Drive-By Truckers
― xhuxk, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:53 (fifteen years ago)
Madonna - Little Star
― Delia & Daphne & Celeste (Masonic Boom), Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:54 (fifteen years ago)
Thanks for the replies. I'd be stoked if you could supply some actual song titles.
― Chonus, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:54 (fifteen years ago)
Hymn To Her - The Pretenders
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:55 (fifteen years ago)
Thin Lizzy, "Sarah"
― Mark G, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:55 (fifteen years ago)
That Pretenders' song is about her mother, isn't it?
― Mark G, Thursday, 22 April 2010 15:56 (fifteen years ago)
Nico "My Only Child" from Desertshore.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:00 (fifteen years ago)
It's not completely clear whether it's about her son or not, I guess.
Actually, isn't the Pretenders' "Show Me" about Chrissie's daughter?
Eminem and Everclear have lots, especially Eminem. Was thinking of Will Smith "Just The Two Of Us," Stevie "Isn't She Lovely," Drive By Truckers "Eyes Like Glue."
― xhuxk, Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:02 (fifteen years ago)
Robert Pollard, "My Son Cool" & "Your Name Is Wild" iirc
― the big pink suede panda bear hurts (ledge), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:03 (fifteen years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zol2MJf6XNE
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:04 (fifteen years ago)
Andy Partridge, "Holly up on Poppy"
― the big pink suede panda bear hurts (ledge), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:04 (fifteen years ago)
(xtc)
― the big pink suede panda bear hurts (ledge), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:05 (fifteen years ago)
Low - "In Metal"
― Bill A, Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:22 (fifteen years ago)
Richard Thompson, End of the Rainbow
^ beat that one for nihilism
― Is that your Ayrshire bacon? (Tom D.), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:27 (fifteen years ago)
Beach Boys, "I Wanna Pick You Up"
― Is that your Ayrshire bacon? (Tom D.), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:28 (fifteen years ago)
one of my favorites is "meus filhos meu tesouro" by jorge ben, guy actually gives shout-outs to his kids in the lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVH5Fe7GF6Q
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:28 (fifteen years ago)
Artur Miró!Anabela Gorda!Jesus Correia!
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:30 (fifteen years ago)
The Band (Robbie Robertson) - "All La Glory"
― Wishes he picked a cooler name. Fat. (will), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:30 (fifteen years ago)
Sly Stone, Small Talk
― Is that your Ayrshire bacon? (Tom D.), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:34 (fifteen years ago)
Beach Boys - When a Man Needs a Woman
do songs about other bandmembers' kids count (i.e., Hey Jude?)
― the first circus ringleader in space (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:35 (fifteen years ago)
(or any of Dennis Wilson songs about boning Mike Love's daughter?)
― the first circus ringleader in space (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:36 (fifteen years ago)
neil young's trans album is about communicating with his son who had cerebral palsy
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:40 (fifteen years ago)
"Transformer Man" <------- heartbreaker
― Is that your Ayrshire bacon? (Tom D.), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:42 (fifteen years ago)
sex pistols - "bodies"
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:45 (fifteen years ago)
ok that was kind of sick
― 鬼の手 (Edward III), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:46 (fifteen years ago)
Kate Bush - Berti
― mdskltr (blueski), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:50 (fifteen years ago)
Scott Stapp LOL
― I went to your blog and I didn't feel anything (Curt1s Stephens), Thursday, 22 April 2010 16:58 (fifteen years ago)
Depeche Mode's "Precious" is a mini-letter from Martin L. Gore to his kids about his divorce.
― HI DERE, Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:00 (fifteen years ago)
Cat Power has a song about her aborted children.
― Chonus, Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:01 (fifteen years ago)
holy crap
― the big pink suede panda bear hurts (ledge), Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:03 (fifteen years ago)
Annie Lennox -- "Precious"John Lennon -- "Beautiful Boy"George Jones -- "Daddy, Come Home"
― mottdeterre, Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:04 (fifteen years ago)
Throwing Muses, "Dylan." I'm sure K. Hersh has written others about her kids, but that's the first that springs to mind.
― Obama, Wellstone and Darwinfish, Attorneys (Pancakes Hackman), Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:04 (fifteen years ago)
Peter Hammill, "Sleep Now"
― anagram, Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:17 (fifteen years ago)
can't believe no mention yet of Loudon Wainwright's "Rufus Is a Tit Man"
― the first circus ringleader in space (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:18 (fifteen years ago)
oh first post lol
Radiohead - I Will
― acoleuthic, Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:20 (fifteen years ago)
Jonathan Richman - Not Yet ThreeEdwyn Collins - For The Rest Of My Life (the last bit anyway)BMX Bandits - Waiting for BabyJulian Cope - The Battle for the Trees (mentions his kids by name but it's not really about them)
― everything, Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:30 (fifteen years ago)
hmm, does Jonathan Richman have kids then?
― screamin' lord sufj (unregistered), Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:49 (fifteen years ago)
yes
― the first circus ringleader in space (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 22 April 2010 17:50 (fifteen years ago)
His son has played in his band from time to time. And he has a daughter too.
― everything, Thursday, 22 April 2010 18:02 (fifteen years ago)
Stereolab - People Do It All The Time
― Moodles, Thursday, 22 April 2010 18:04 (fifteen years ago)
Sleater-kinney - "Sympathy"
― borntohula, Thursday, 22 April 2010 18:11 (fifteen years ago)
and a tonne of Tool songs.
― borntohula, Thursday, 22 April 2010 18:12 (fifteen years ago)
Here's one that I totally spaced on:Naima by Coltrane
― Chonus, Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:01 (fifteen years ago)
Naima was his wife.
― Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:07 (fifteen years ago)
gross
― HI DERE, Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:08 (fifteen years ago)
Pancakes beat me to "Dylan" by the Muses.
Would also be interested in a thread about artists who have had songs written about them BY their kids, but not sure how long a list that would be. (Can think of "Bloody Motherfucking Asshole" by Martha Wainwright at least.)
― Sean Carruthers, Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:09 (fifteen years ago)
Ooh, a real good one:
Car: Built To Spill
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 22 April 2010 19:32 (fifteen years ago)
Deicide - "Satan Spawn, the Caco-Daemon" was written for Daemon Michael, Glen Benton's kid. Badass title and song. Now that's a cool dad.
― no-nonsense, Thursday, 22 April 2010 20:10 (fifteen years ago)
paul simon, "st judy's comet"neil young, "already one"
― estela, Thursday, 22 April 2010 20:13 (fifteen years ago)
Pretty mortified by my Coltrane fail.Thanks, Everybody, for the nod to Not Yet Three. Pretty goddamned accurate. I have a just-turned-three girl and she could have written it.
― Chonus, Thursday, 22 April 2010 20:16 (fifteen years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1mzDR3onnI
― The Holy Seefeel (latebloomer), Thursday, 22 April 2010 20:24 (fifteen years ago)
Jonathan Richman has a bunch of songs about childhood - "I Have Come Out To Play", "That Summer Feeling", "The Tag Game", "My Little Kukenhagen", plus others I'm sure. The only other one I can remember that seems to specifically be about his own children is "My Little Girl's Got A Full-time Daddy Now".
― everything, Thursday, 22 April 2010 21:14 (fifteen years ago)
Me on Eminem on parenting (probably some other useful examples mentioned in these too, fwiw):
http://blog.rhapsody.com/2009/05/parenting-advice-from-marshall-mathers.html
http://www.villagevoice.com/2002-12-24/news/the-daddy-shady-show/1
― xhuxk, Thursday, 22 April 2010 21:27 (fifteen years ago)
A lot of the songs off There's Nothing Wrong With Love sound like they're about kids - Twin Falls, Cleo
My 8 month old daughter and I have been listening to this one quite a bit recently.
― Darin, Thursday, 22 April 2010 21:36 (fifteen years ago)
Ooh, a real good one:Car: Built To SpillA lot of the songs off There's Nothing Wrong With Love sound like they're about kids - Twin Falls, CleoMy 8 month old daughter and I have been listening to this one quite a bit recently.
So sweet. Are those songs about Doug's kids, or just kids (and childhood) in general?
A sidenote: isn't the The Normal Years version of "Car" so much better than the one on TNWWL?
― AlexPh, Thursday, 22 April 2010 21:55 (fifteen years ago)
Maybe because it's no longer true.
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 23 April 2010 02:24 (fifteen years ago)
Pretenders - "Thumbelina"
Chrissie didn't write "Hymn to Her"
― Hideous Lump, Friday, 23 April 2010 02:26 (fifteen years ago)
Bruce Springsteen - Living ProofPatti Smith - The Jackson Song
― ImprovSpirit, Friday, 23 April 2010 02:31 (fifteen years ago)
james taylor wrote 'sweet baby james' for his nephew.
― estela, Friday, 23 April 2010 02:33 (fifteen years ago)
Shack - walter's song
― meisenfek, Friday, 23 April 2010 03:13 (fifteen years ago)
The Silos - Margaret
― that's not my post, Friday, 23 April 2010 05:47 (fifteen years ago)
dearhunters - ivy
― fag-amplitude (electricsound), Friday, 23 April 2010 06:51 (fifteen years ago)
I love that Dearhunter's song electricsound.
Liz Phair - Dig Little Digger Rickee Lee Jones - I Wont Grow UpPeter Holsapple - Don't Ever lose The Child In You
― Goldfoot, Friday, 23 April 2010 06:58 (fifteen years ago)
Did Cobain ever do any songs about his daughter?
― kelpolaris, Friday, 23 April 2010 07:41 (fifteen years ago)
Another one by Peter Hammill, a kind of sequel to his earlier "Sleep Now" – "Once You Called Me".
― anagram, Friday, 23 April 2010 07:49 (fifteen years ago)
John Martyn - My Baby Girl
― Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Farting in Space (NickB), Friday, 23 April 2010 08:17 (fifteen years ago)
Randy Newman - Memo to My Son
― Phil Will, Friday, 23 April 2010 09:36 (fifteen years ago)
Beyonce - Blue is a surprisingly good example of this (I was expecting it to be really cloying or blandly affirmative of the joy of being a mother, but it's one of the best songs I think she's done)
― StillAdvance, Wednesday, 18 December 2013 17:37 (twelve years ago)
Robbie's is fucking great. that won't be a popular opinion on ilm but there it is. i'm guessing he's heard Kooks by Bowie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3OWZaIpEDk
― piscesx, Wednesday, 18 December 2013 18:14 (twelve years ago)
Rolling Stones-Dandelion (I think?)
― Prince Kajuku (Bill Magill), Wednesday, 18 December 2013 21:12 (twelve years ago)
Liz Phair - Double DutchThe Reivers - End of the Day
― nickn, Wednesday, 18 December 2013 21:46 (twelve years ago)
Guided By Voices - My Son CoolGuided By Voices - Your Name Is Wild
― Eats like Elvis, shits like De Niro (Tom D.), Thursday, 19 December 2013 10:59 (twelve years ago)
Chris Knox, "To the First-Born"
― Tottenham Heelspur (in orbit), Thursday, 19 December 2013 11:49 (twelve years ago)
Not technically a song (no singing/lyrics) but Jackie McLean's "Melody for Melonae"
― Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Thursday, 19 December 2013 15:06 (twelve years ago)
Well, in that case, Roland Kirk, "A Laugh for Rory"
― Eats like Elvis, shits like De Niro (Tom D.), Thursday, 19 December 2013 15:21 (twelve years ago)
Robbie's is fucking great. that won't be a popular opinion on ilm but there it is.
agreed. i really like it.
― mark e, Thursday, 19 December 2013 15:41 (twelve years ago)
Peter Hammill had kids?!
― VENIET IMBER (imago), Thursday, 19 December 2013 17:25 (twelve years ago)
As in the song, "Wilhelmina"?
― Eats like Elvis, shits like De Niro (Tom D.), Thursday, 19 December 2013 17:43 (twelve years ago)
oh shit of course
― VENIET IMBER (imago), Thursday, 19 December 2013 17:44 (twelve years ago)