Songs for Having a Son – The Definitive Playlist
It’s no secret we are having a boy. It has been an awesome pregnancy so far, and one of the things we wanted to do before our progeny enters the world was have a song to remember this time – just like how couples have their “song” that stirs feelings/memories/love.
While there are many pregnancy songs out there, when I narrowed it down to boy specific I found very little to go on. Undeterred, I pressed on. After hours of digging, I came up with a baker’s dozen songs to choose from that were meaningful and fit our musical taste.
To make it easier for you, I decided to share this playlist so you would have an easier time finding songs for your future son. Get it on Spotify.
To make it easier for me, I want you to add songs to the playlist in the comments below, and I will frequently update the list. Thank you.
Without further ado, I present to you the…
It’s A Boy Playlist:
Songs For Your Son
- Beautiful Boy – John Lennon
- Hourglass – Mindy Gledhill
- Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- A New Day Has Come – Celine Dion
- With Arms Wide Open – Boyce Avenue
- Sweet Child O Mine – Sheryl Crow
- Forever Young – Eddie Vedder
- Still Fighting It – Ben Folds Five
- Godspeed – Dixie Chicks
- Dare you to Move – Switchfoot
- Reach Out – Rob Taylor
- Innocence – Avril Lavigne
- In My Arms – Plumb
SONGS ADDED BY READERS
- When You Dream – Barenaked Ladies (thanks Jason Ziebart)
- Blessed – Elton John (Thanks Michelle)
- Return to Pooh Corner – Kenny Loggins (Thanks Jen)
- The Adventure – Angels & Airwaves
- Danny’s Song – Kenny Loggins (Thanks Jen)
- Just the Two of Us – Will Smith (Thanks Michelle)
- Father & Son – Cat Stevens (Thanks again, Michelle)
- The Day That You Gave Me a Son – Babyface (Thanks Rob)
- Anything Like Me – Brad Paisley (Thanks Brice)
- Closer – Better Than Ezra (Thanks Cara)
- Little Guy – Gord Bamford (Thanks Alaska)
- He’s Mine – Rodney Atkins (Thanks Kristen)
SUGGESTED ALTERNATE VERSIONS OF SONGS ON THIS LIST
- Simple Man – Shinedown (Thanks Steve)
- With Arms Wide Open – Creed (Thanks Rick)
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
Get this playlist on Spotify by clicking here.
YOUR TURN. What did I miss? Leave your suggestions in the comments below and let’s keep this list growing!
And if you are pregnant and reading this, congrats, I’m so happy for you!
About Cole Bradburn
I'm a writer and doctor in lifelong pursuit of health, happiness, and adventure. I currently live in Raleigh, NC with the love of my life and our amazing boys.
With Arms Wide Open – Creed
Just noticed you have a cover of the song on the list. Guess that falls under “and fit our musical taste.”
Haha, yes. I was never a big fan of Creed, but I love that song. The acoustic version is more my style.
Thanks!
STEVE LIKES SHINE DOWN VERSION OF SIMPLE MAN. I LIKE DANNY’S SONG BY KENNY LOGGINS OR HIS RETURN TO POOH CORNER. WE USE TO PLAY THE CD FOR THE KIDS AT NIGHT…THEY CALLED IT THE SLEEPY MUSIC.
Awesome, thanks Jen! Simple man is awesome, and I just listened to return to pooh corner for the first time…its great
I listened to it too, i thought i would cry, that is my song for Spencer…my Woog Bear will be all grown up this year!
I approve of the Ben Folds song of course 🙂
Knew you would 🙂
terrible
Wow, thank you.
Did you have any suggestions to add? It is supposed to be a living list. I had a hard time finding songs specifically about unborn/newborn sons. What would you listen to?
Nope. No suggestions.
Good talk 😉
I’m coming in late to this, but “When You Dream” by Bare Naked Ladies took on a whole new meaning for me when I became a father.
Jason,
Just listened to it, great add! Thanks, it’s going up on the list.
Any other songs that changed for you after you became a dad?
I can’t think of any right now. I’ll get back to you if something jogs my memory. I’ve been on a music hiatus for a while now. Perhaps a dusting of the iTunes?
It’s a bit of an eclectic mix but: Just the Two of Us by Will Smith, Father & Son by Cat Stevens, My Darling by Wilco, Zion by Lauryn Hill (from a mom’s perspective), Stay up Late by Talking Heads (Gender neutral), Forever Young (the original Bob Dylan version is IMHO far superior to the Rod Stewart version, but a lot of people can’t take Dylan’s vocals- so might I suggest Eddie Vedder’s version- much easier on the ears!) Blessed by Elton John, and I’ll just throw in that I much prefer Skynrd to Shinedown for Simple Man.
🙂
Wow, great adds Michelle. How did I miss Just the Two of Us! Also, suggesting Eddie Vedder for Forever Young is genius, I would like that much better than Rod Stewart.
Bob Dylan’s song and Rod Stewarts song are completely different songs with same title though. I know what you mean about his voice, not quite our cup of tea 😉
I also much prefer Skynyrd to Shinedown. I’m going to add Stay Up Late and Blessed. I need to go listen to Father and Son, My Darling, and Zion.
Thanks so much! We are finalizing our music as he is set to arrive in the next 2 weeks.
The Day That You Gave Me A Son by Babyface… Nice song
Great add, I’ll put it in. Thanks Rob!
Blessed by Elton john
Great add, thanks!
It’s a bit late, but if you enjoy country Brad Paisley has an excellent song about an unborn or newborn son. It’s called, “Anything Like Me”
Thanks Brice! I’ve added it to the list. Great song by the way.
Beautiful Boy by Ben Harper is an amazing rendition of a great song
That’s a great suggestion, I’ll add it. Thank you Gordie.
Baby Mine by Allison Krauss is a wonderful song! Thanks so much for this list, it’s awesome! We’re decorating our sons nursery in all music.
Stay Up Late- Talking Heads
Terrific living list and thank you for sharing 🙂 you’ve made my life a little easier today and I’m grateful.
Glad to have helped and it’s great to hear you enjoyed it 🙂
Watching you. By Rodney adkins.
Thanks Helen, I’ll include that in the next update!
Rodney adkins he’s mine
Bob Seger’s …….In your time is a classic father to son song
Yellow coldplay
Miracle – Temper Trap
Little Guy by Gord Bamford is probably the best son-father song i’ve ever heard 🙂
Great add, thank you!
Closer by Better than Ezra
Thanks, and its now on there 🙂
“He’s Mine” -Rodney Atkins
Thank you, added 🙂
You have to have “anything like me ” -Brad Paisly
Thanks, got it on there!
The Greatest (Little Boy) – Kenny Rogers
You’re Gonna Be – Reba McEntire, she wrote it for her son.
Great add, I’m going to put it on the list
And The Greatest (Little Boy) – Kenny Rogers
Thanks, I’ll add it too 🙂
Not sure if someone already suggested “Let them be little” by lonestar but it’s a great song 🙂
Here Comes the Sun – Beatles
Great add! I’ll put in on the list
Great playlist 🙂
greatest discovery by elton john
Some great ones already listed, but a couple more I really love:
Marc Cohn – The Things We’ve Handed Down
Toby Keith – Heart to Heart (Stelen’s Song)
Phil Collins – Father to Son
Marc Broussard – Gavin’s Song
George Strait – I Saw God Today
Thanks!
Avril Lavigne doesn’t have a son. I get that ‘Innocence’ might be applicable to a child, but I’m curious where you found that it was about a son?
Lullaby- Billy Joel
I love love love will Smith -just the two of us.
St. Judy’s Comet Paul Simon
Good Morning Beautiful Steve Holy
Thanks Kathleen
I realise this is somewhat late to the party but I have been struggling to put together a little picture montage for my sons birthday (Beautiful Boy just wasn’t getting it done). I came across your blog, ten mins later had purchased Ben Folds “Still Fighting” and in an instant had a gorgeous slideshow and a new favourite song thats reduced me to tears twice…so even if you dont check back on this I want to thank you….
I’m glad you found the right song. My son is now three and a half, and there are still times when I hear a couple of the songs on this list and I’m transported back to him as a newborn (and the tears come back). I love how music can connect you to moments in time.
My all-time favorite for a young son > “HE’S A GOOD LAD” by BREAD.
Thanks Jerry
you – fisher
Thank you Aaron
Thank you so much. I am throwing a shower for my daughter-in-law and they are expecting a boy in May. Loads of songs for daughters, so this was a great find!!
Glad it was helpful 🙂
Can’t Wait to Meet You by Small Town Pistols.
This list is wonderful. I have two beautiful songs to add.
Let Them Be Little- Billy Dean then Lonestar
Slow Down- Nichole Nordman
Winning Streak -Glen Hansard, it’s truly amazing
Our family song with my boys has always been “I’m Yours” by
Jason Mraz
Little Hands by Inland Sky! I make my kids video slideshows every year on their birthday, and this folky one is probably my all-time favorite.
Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
My boy – Elvis Presley, not a fan but nice lyrics 😉
Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chaplin
Boy–Lee Bryce
93 million miles from the sun – jason mraz
Charlie Robison photograph is the best…. none other like it for a new born boy