Someday your child may cry And if you sing this lullabye Then in your heart There will always be a part of me Billy's ballad "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" is a dreamy and contemplative song about our connection with our children or other loved ones. Billy's little girl Alexa, who was about seven years old at the time, had asked him what will happen when he dies. He reassures her that "wherever you may go, no matter where you are, I never will be far away." And later that he will live through her, "someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby, then in your heart, there will always be a part of me."
Billy has explained that he told Alexa that "when we die, you go into other people's hearts, you never really go away. You go into the rest of the people that you know, go to the rest of their lives . . . ." He has said that he believes that when you die, you go into the hearts of your loved ones. The word "lullabye" is apparently intentionally misspelled in the song title with the extra "e" to signify the song is a goodbye but also an enduring lullaby. Billy talks about the song and its special meaning between him and Alexa in this snippet from SiriusXM. Click player below:
The lyrics have a nice progression, first talking about the present, a memory from the past, and then the future. In the first verse it is "time to close your eyes, in the next it is "time to sleep" and in the final verse it is "time to dream." The song has a lilting, rocking feel, as if father and daughter were out on a boat at sea, perhaps on the Downeaster Alexa. The lyrics and this nautical motif help imbue the song with both a sense of spirituality and the notion of a journey, which leads seamlessly into the next song "The River of Dreams."
More on "Lullabye" from SiriusXM.
Alexa discusses "Lullabye' on SiriusXM |
Words and Music by Billy Joel
Goodnight, my angel Time to close your eyes And save these questions for another day I think I know what you've been asking me I think you know what I've been trying to say I promised I would never leave you And you should always know Wherever you may go No matter where you are I never will be far away Goodnight, my angel Now it's time to sleep And still so many things I want to say Remember all the songs you sang for me When we went sailing on an emerald bay And like a boat out on the ocean I'm rocking you to sleep The water's dark and deep Inside this ancient heart You'll always be a part of me Goodnight, my angel Now it's time to dream And dream how wonderful your life will be Someday your child may cry And if you sing this lullaby Then in your heart There will always be a part of me Someday we'll all be gone But lullabies go on and on They never die That's how you and I will be 
Billy and Alexa Ray sailing on an emerald bay.
Photo: Christie Brinkley (from Newsday.com?). 
Billy and Alexa (2014). Photo: unknown.
Young Billy Joel and Alexa Ray Joel at their pianos. |
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The last five songs on the album, beginning with "All About Soul," blend together thematically and musically somewhat like the songs on Side Two of The Beatles' Abbey Road, though they are not directly linked like those songs. When these five songs ("All About Soul," "Lullabye," "River of Dream," "Two Thousand Years" and "Famous Last Words") are heard in consecutive order as is intended on the album, then the song "The River of Dreams" seems less of an anomaly in the Billy Joel catalog, but rather a part of this suite or collection of songs. "Lullabye" and "The River of Dreams" flow well together and originally "Lullabye" flowed directly into the The River of Dreams" (see video below about the "Shetler Island Sessions"). And both songs fit well within the overall context of Side Two of the album. At the same time, "Lullabye" stands on its own. It is a timeless song, it will go on and on.
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"And dream how wonderful your life will be"
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I used to play this song (CD) for my own daughters (Lolo and Jams) before they went to bed. There is a children's book of the lyrics with an accompanying CD of the song (see left). I always liked the line "and dream how wonderful your life will be." It's every parent's hope that their children will lead wonderful lives, better lives. The song always reminds me of my girls.
Each time I hear the song, I remember how precious it is to have a daughter. Many times I've thought about each of their lives and futures. I only hope that they realize how much I love them and carry them in my heart even if I cannot see them every day. Knowing this will hopefully sustain them when they are down, and when I am gone. Only time will tell.
Each time I hear the song, I remember how precious it is to have a daughter. Many times I've thought about each of their lives and futures. I only hope that they realize how much I love them and carry them in my heart even if I cannot see them every day. Knowing this will hopefully sustain them when they are down, and when I am gone. Only time will tell.
The video for "Lullabye," directed by Marcus Nispel, is one of the better Billy Joel music videos. It is shot in black and white and features a series of images of children playing while wearing angel wings or other nostalgic imagery. The video is simple and elegant, befitting the song.
There are many cover versions of the song, mostly by choirs and a cappella groups. I am not a Celine Dion fan, but she does a nice cover. Lee Ann Rimes also sang the song at 2013 Gershwin Prize ceremony honoring Billy. I particularly like the cover by La Chasse who give it their own interpretation (see video below). They dedicated their cover to the parents and children of Sandy Hook.
There are many cover versions of the song, mostly by choirs and a cappella groups. I am not a Celine Dion fan, but she does a nice cover. Lee Ann Rimes also sang the song at 2013 Gershwin Prize ceremony honoring Billy. I particularly like the cover by La Chasse who give it their own interpretation (see video below). They dedicated their cover to the parents and children of Sandy Hook.
Alexa Ray Joel posted a nice mini-tribute to her father on her Instagram account.
Videos
This is a very well done video for "Lullabye" directed by Marcus Nispel. © 1993 Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
Watch more videos on BillyJoel.com or Vevo's YouTube channel.
Watch more videos on BillyJoel.com or Vevo's YouTube channel.
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Billy discusses "Lullabye" in this 1993 interview.
Billy explains, to producer George Martin, the origins of "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)."
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After he is asked a question about "This Night" and classical music, Billy explains how he wrote "Lullabye" and "River of Dreams" (audio only). From a Master Class in 1994.
Billy explains why he wrote "Lullabye" at a Master Class in 2001.
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Billy discusses "Lullabye" on 60 Minutes (Australia) in 2022, as well as "Root Beer Rag" and "Prelude/Angry Young Man."
This is an early version of "Lullabye" from the Shelter Island Sessions. It then leads right into "The River of Dreams."
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Live version of "Lullabye" from a 1993 concert at the Carrier Dome. Billy sounds great.
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This is nice acoustic guitar cover by Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles.
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This is a nice cover by La Chasse, on acoustic guitar.
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Publicity photo (1981)
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