Category Archives: lullaby songs

Lullaby songs by writer singer illustrator Tony Funderburk

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Evidently there’s science involved in the benefits of sleepy music for babies in the womb. And I used that phrase because apparently a lotta people use that phrase to look for lullabies. Probably because they don’t know how to spell lullabies. But let’s not go down that rabbit trail right now. Back to the science.

Sleepy music for babies in the womb is just plain good for them.

And not just for the babies. I saw some information that said moms who sing lullabies, while they’re pregnant, tend to enjoy better bonding with their children after birth. And they deal with less mom stress.

Check out these other healthy benefits…

  • Calming music therapy helps premature babies develop better
  • Little kids sleep better when you sing the same lullaby songs each night
  • Music improves self-control and alleviates fear and anxiety

 

“But Tony, you mentioned science. What’s the science behind all those benefits?”

Thank you, invisible and inquisitive one. Yes, I’m getting to that.

Studies have shown that soothing music helps babies in the womb relax. And they continue to relax and breathe more deeply after they’re born, too. And that certainly improves oxygen saturation. Naturally, more oxygen to the brain is a good thing (Hey, who let Martha Stewart in here?) Plus, little babies who listen to calming music at feeding time appear to gain weight at a better rate. Music helps nursing mothers provide better nutrition. And that improves sleep.

And better sleep is good for the brain.

I believe the healthy benefits of sleepy music for babies in the womb proves, to anyone who’s willing to pay attention, that they’re not just a clump of cells. Because why would anybody care to sing to clump of cells? And would anybody try to calm down a clump of cells. Right?

I know babies, infants, toddlers, and kids benefit from lullaby songs. That’s why I’ve written and produced so many. The first collection I put together is called “Lullabye Bye.” And I published a sing-along coloring book with all the lyrics to that collection. Best part is, there’s a super secret link, inside the book, where you can download all the songs. So, kids don’t just get a fun book. They also get free songs to go with the lyrics.

Can you say “Healthy Benefits” for all?

OK, enough of my shameless self promotion. I’ll leave you alone so you can go get the book. But I’ll leave you with these words, from the book…

In your dreams you fly up high
Beyond the clouds, beyond the sky
And the sun and all its beams
Will keep you smiling in your dreams.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

When it’s time for bed, there’s nothing more effective to get little kids to sleep than bedtime stories and lullaby songs. Unless, of course, your little kids are intergalactic aliens with no respect for authority. Then, all bets are off. And you’d better get your force field up and your lightsaber ready.

But little Bedtime Buckaroos are able to understand why it’s time for bed.

And they know when you tell ’em dark time is sleep time, that it’s time to get some rest. So they can be ready for tomorrow. And the only way to turn the night time into daytime again is to close your eyes and go to sleep.

That’s why I designed the title song to my collection of Western-themed lullabies, Bedtime Buckaroos, as a midnight dream rodeo. (side note: I use the ro-day-oh pronunciation in the song…for effect) So, I mention rope, ponies, cactus, and (of course) dancin’.

Here’s a little inside information about how I came up with the rhythm for the song. Have you ever watched an old Western movie where a horse and rider slowly walk through town as the locals look on? And have you ever paid attention to the sound of the horse’s hooves? Sort of a slow, shuffling, clippity clop. Well, that’s the rhythm.

It’s also a little bit like a relaxed heartbeat. And it’s part of the Western charm to help your little buckaroos relax, enjoy the music and story, and drift off to their own midnight dream rodeo.

Now, I won’t guarantee you that every little kid in the world will love these Western-themed lullabies. Because apparently there are some kids, somewhere, who prefer video games on their techy mobile devices. But my sources tell me these songs have the desired effect on even some of the most resistant aliens…uh…kids.

So, here’s what I suggest.

Get a copy of the Bedtime Buckaroos Songbook (which is also a coloring book and drawing book), find the secret link to all the songs, download ’em, and try ’em out on your little buckaroos.

So, what are waitin’ for pawdnuh?

Ki yi…keep that twinkle in your eye.
Drift off, ’cause it’s bedtime, buckaroos. (© 2011)

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I don’t have a clue how many pony breeds are out there. Sure, I could look that up in the search engines. But I’m not interested in any of them that don’t start with the letter P. Sounds tetched in the head, right?

Wrong.

Because I love alliteration. And I needed pony breeds that start with P.

And that’s because I wrote a song about ponies. In particular, a pony that couldn’t sleep. So, since pony starts with P, I wrote about breeds that start with P. And it was so cool how they fit right into my rhyming scheme.

But, back to the song.

It’s about a pony who couldn’t sleep. And even though it looks like ponies (and horses) always stand and never sleep, that’s not how it is. They need to sleep for their health just as much as other animals. But the pony in this song just couldn’t sleep.

He tried the old standby of counting sheep. But no deal. And tried staying up until he couldn’t stand up. But even when he got tired of standing, he couldn’t sleep.

Mighty rough. So, the pony started to wonder if he was cursed. Because he understood how hard it is to be a winner when you’re sleep deprived. And besides all that, the pony in the song wanted to be able to dream. But if you don’t sleep, it’s pretty much impossible to have those dreams.

You’ll have to get the “Bedtime Buckaroos” songbook (which is also a coloring book and drawing book) to find out if there’s a happy ending to this pony’s story.

And you’re in luck.

Because you’re just a click (or tap) or two away from finding out. Head on over to the link, below, and get your copy today. Oh, and by the way…there’s a super secret link in the book where you can go to get all the songs that go with the book. For a price even an out of work pony can afford. $0 What are you waiting for?

And nothing else could…be more supreme
Than trotting freely in a peaceful pony dream.

© Tony Funderburk 2011

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I’ve always loved the old westerns. The movies where the good guys won. And the bad guys lost. Those movies where cowboys, villains, sheriffs on the hunt for desperados, and even settlers from back East had to make camp for the night. And there was time to reflect on the day around the ember glow of the campfire.

Did you watch those movies? Or, maybe you’re like me, and you even watch ’em over again now. And as you think about what I’m talkin’ about, does it light up some word pictures for you? It sure does for me.

I can see those sleepy-eyed cowboys starin’ into that campfire ember glow.

And I can see a half moon hangin’ in a sky filled with a trillion stars. A little further over to the right is a horse that looks just as tired and sleepy as its rider.

Then, I can smell the scent of beans, onions, and coffee. Mm…mm. Now, that’s sleepin’ and dreamin’ food.

Well, a few years back I thought about all that, too. And I worked up a right nice collection of western-themed lullaby songs. And I put ’em all together in “Bedtime Buckaroos.” One of those songs was called “Windy Saddle.” It was inspired by two things. First, those scenes from the movies. And second, a little restaurant in Golden.

But regardless of where my inspiration originated, little kids love the songs. And I know they’ll love the songbook (which is also a coloring book and drawing book) just as much. So, if you love the little kids in your life, you’ll git on over to the internet store and buy the Bedtime Buckaroos songbook for ’em quicker’n greased lighting.

The link is below. And it’s so easy, you AND your painted pony will still have enough energy to go ridin’ through the canyons to find your own Windy Saddle.

Now, the night falls low on the paintbrush blooms,
And the campfire light fades to ember glow…
Well, it’s times like this that caress my soul,
And I know that I’ll always remember so. (© 2012)

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

When I was a kid, back in the days of yore, I remember slow, slow, Slo-poke summer days. But I also remember days that flew by like missiles headed for the center of the Earth. And I remember how I didn’t want the day to end. Fast or slow. I wished it would go on and on. At least, that is, until I heard the drifting sands.

Drifting sands didn’t even have to be sand.

Matter of fact, they didn’t even have to drift. Because it was the sound that did the trick. The sound flipped my switch to “off.” And I fell, willingly, into the clutches of the deep, dark night. Or the embrace of late afternoon naps.

It was 10 years ago, yesterday (July 9), when I wrote a song about the slumbering sound effects. And, as I wrote the lyrics to go with my music, I thought about those sounds. And other sounds that sounded like those sounds. (Does that sound right to you?)

Anyway…

I thought to myself, “What other sounds coax me into shut-eye time?”

And I answered myself, “Hmm…how about the gentle breezes through the upstairs window screen? Yeah, those could work. Write that down, Tony.”

But I didn’t stop there. Because then I thought about the creaking sounds of limbs when they rub against each other. And certain night birds. And…then…zzz.

After I woke up out my self-induced nap, I started typing down my ideas and rhymes. But, because of the rhythm of the song, I challenged myself to write every line of lyrics, except for the chorus, in only four syllables. And lo and behold (that’s a phrase from days of yore) I did it.

So, that’s how the song, “Drifting Sands,” found its way into the “Bedtime Buckaroos” collection of western-themed lullaby songs I’ve been talking about lately.

And I’ve been talking about Bedtime Buckaroos because those songs are now included in a song/drawing/coloring book by the same name. What a coincidence, that was caused by none other than your friendly Funderwriter.

If you’ve got little kids around (and I’ve heard tell some people do),

Then you owe it to them to make sure they have their own copy of the Bedtime Buckaroos songbook. Which, as I said, is also a coloring book and drawing book. And kids love these lullabies. In fact, talk around the cracker barrel  (one of those contraptions from days of yore) says kids don’t even realize they’re being tricked into shut-eye time.

But that’s the beauty of Drifting Sands. And all the other lullabies. They sound like innocent, little songs. But then, when you least expect it…click* Your switch is flipped. And off you go.

Get the Bedtime Buckaroos songbook (which, like I said, is also a coloring and drawing book) with just the flip of your wrist. And the click or tap of your finger. In fact, you might even have a one-click/tap option if you got yourself one of them there Prime memberships. But it’s darn-tootin’ easy for anybody who uses the link below.

And in the meantime…

Drifting sands…desert dreamtime calls.
Drifting sands…sound like waterfalls.
Leave your cares in the angels’ hands,
And drift to sleep on the drifting sands. (the chorus from the song) © 2011

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers. Yeah, I can almost hear ’em singin’ Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds just by mentioning their names. And I get a visual, in my head, of the ranch hands ’round the campfire as they sang, “The Cowpoke Lullaby.”

Oops, it couldn’t have been The Cowpoke Lullaby.

Because that song wasn’t written back when those singin’ cowboys sang in the movies and on TV. And I know that for sure because I’m the one what wrote it. Back in 2011. Jeepers. Hard to believe that’s 10 years ago.

If you’ve been following along for the past few articles, I’ve been sharing some backstory to the songs I wrote for Bedtime Buckaroos. And that’s my Western-themed lullabies for kids (and even grownups) who either like, or remember, the days of the singin’ cowboys.

And I remember, one night looking up at the tiny sliver of a moon and thinking, “Hmm…it sorta looks like a fingernail.” So, I thought about what a fingernail might do, way up there in the sky. And the first couple of lines to The Cowpoke Lullaby popped into my head.

Then, I started thinking about what would go nicely with a fingernail shaped moon and a star-filled sky. And a couple more lines popped into my head. And lo and behold…they rhymed.

So, I knew I was onto something that hearkened back to those wonderful harmonies around the campfires. And I kept going. I could see coyotes and crickets and cattle. And then I pictured the scenery. That’s when hills and mesquite trees drifted into the lyrics.

Next thing I knew, it was time for a chorus and a bridge.

And somehow the idea of a little reverberated yodeling seemed like just the ticket. So, I put it all together. And another easy-going, western-sounding, harmonizing lullaby was born. And there are 8 more in the Bedtime Buckaroos Songbook…which is also a coloring book and drawing book. Plus, when you buy the book, there’s a secret link where you download all the songs to all the lyrics. Free. Just click or tap the link, below, to get the book and get ’em all.

Under the big mesquite tree
That’s where sweet dreams will greet me.
Yodel ay ee ay…yodel ay ee ay ee ay

© 2011 Tony Funderburk

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

“The outpost of the new west.” That’s the slogan on the website for The Silver Horse. And it’s a nice store, with some cool stuff, nestled among the other shops on the main drag in downtown Golden, Colorado. Elgielene and I used to walk or drive by there all the time.

And the owners don’t know how The Silver Horse inspired a song.

In fact, that’s the name of the song. And I’ll tell you, right up front, it’s off my Bedtime Buckaroos collection of Western-themed lullabies for kids. So, if that’s of no interest to you, then you can save yourself some time and strain on your eyes and click or tap away right now.

But just in case you’d like to know more about this song, in particular, well, git off’n yur horse and sit a spell. ‘Cuz this here story’s all about an incandescent sight in the middle of the night with drifting colors on threads of light.

Yep, this story’s about a special horse with eyes made of pure diamonds. And how that special Silver Horse flew across skies so turquoise you’d almost swear you were in the Santa Fe Plaza on Saturday. That’s right. And this extraordinary horse landed, one dark night, in the middle of a group of prairie creatures.

Of course, the whispers went up immediately. Questions like, “Why would such a horse be here?” I mean, it’s only natural to wonder why an amazing stallion would land in a humble prairie in the middle of the night. Wouldn’t you be curious? I sure was. Enough to write the song.

And if you’re a Christian, you might pick up on the underlying message. It’s not obvious. But it’s there. And that’s the common thread to the lullabies you’ll get when you get the Bedtime Buckaroos Songbook.

By the way, it’s also a coloring and drawing book. And it has a secret link where you can go to get all the songs that go with the lyrics in the book.

Kids love the songs.

And they’ll love coloring and drawing along as they listen. Or as you read to them and play the music for your little Bedtime Buckaroos. To get the book, click or tap on the link, below.

The Silver Horse with diamond eyes”
That flew across the turquoise skies…
And landed with a mighty force…
And stars shined on the Silver Horse.

Stay tuned,

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Get the Bedtime Buckaroos songbook/coloring book/drawing book