My mother sang hymns to me, sometimes in Swedish. When I was very young I remember my mother singing "The Old Rugged Cross", "Jesus Loves me", Jesus loves the Little Children" and others. She sang "Flow Gently Sweet Afton" to me as a lullaby.
My father would play his harmonica or sing "popular" songs, but he didn't know many of the words and he'd make up silly lines instead of the real ones. Some of his favourites were "The Old Grey Mare", "Old Dan Tucker", "Good Night Irene", "Oh Susannah", "Danny Boy", "Old Man River", "Camptown Races".

rags