inga’s dream

An collection of lullabies that I recorded (and sang for her, whenever I got the chance) for my granddaughter when she was just a few months old, along with some songs that I wrote for her (and with her!) at various times. The stories behind the songs are in the song list, below.

And, we’d like to let you know that any proceeds from streaming these songs will be donated to Animal Rescue. My granddaughter might recognize the orange cat in the illustration.

You can link to any of these songs here, or search for “skip via” on any streaming service.

Several more of my music collections and singles, including collaborations with Carter Minor and Don Sparrow, may be found here.

songs

  • hush little baby
    a traditional lullaby from the southern united states, with sound effects. It is believed to have originated with enslaved africans
  • all the pretty little horses
    another southern US lullaby; one of my favorites. It reminds me of days in Chincoteague. I think I first heard this from Peter, Paul and Mary.
  • balloon man
    my friend charles engstrom and I used to sit around and work out songs that we had composed. Charles had some pieces of this (the title and a few lyrics) and I added others, but it was never finished. many years later it occurred to me that it would be a good lullaby for my granddaughter, so I added the verses and some musical changes. Charles, if you’re out there, I hope you don’t mind. Lyrics below.
  • song of the naturalist’s wife
    this is a song composed by Donovan that I included here because I love it, my son’s loved it as children, and my granddaughter loved it as well. Maybe one day her own granddaughter will love it too.
  • opalescent rag
    I wrote this for my granddaughter to cheer her up one day when she was about two years old, feeling ill and sad. No clue whether or not it worked.
  • walkin’ through the woods
    My granddaughter and I wrote this together based on a song she made up when walking through the woods on a sunny day. It was also released as a single.
  • inga’s dream
    I composed this for my granddaughter when she was having trouble getting to sleep when she was about three years old. See if it works for you.

Balloon Man Lyrics

Balloon man, balloon man.
Balloon man, balloon man.

A yellow man, a black man.
A red man too.
A white man, a brown man,
All dressed in blue.

Balloon man, balloon man.
Balloon man, balloon man.

A butterfly, up in the sky,
A fish at sea.
A whispered word, a hummingbird.
A bumble bee.

.A chiming bell, a scallop shell,
Some colored glass.
A river stone, a herring bone,
A blade of grass.

Balloon man, balloon man.
Balloon man, balloon man.