Songs for a Naming Ceremony

Subject: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Cats
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 08:25 AM

Can anyone suggest suitable songs to be sung at a child's naming ceremony. It will be a beautiful humanist ceremony set in a garden..but it is this weekend and my mind has gone blank.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 09:56 AM

What Child Is This? (Just kidding!:-)

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: foggers
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 10:37 AM

I sang Dylan's "Forever Young" for my nephew's ceremony some years ago, tweaking the lyrics to personalise it a bit. It made a good kind of "benediction" with all the good wishes it contains. I realise that the first line has "God" in it ,but you could substitute a more humanist sentiment instead.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 10:57 AM

Have found a number of suggested forms of naming ceremony, none of which, surprisingly, includes song or music, with one exception, a Christian one which suggests the ceremony be opened to the piped tune of "The Greatest Love of All". I'm not familiar with that hymn (I presume it is a hymn).

Other than write a song specifically for the occasion, and it might be too close to the time to do that, a song about love and welcoming into the family (Welcome Bonny Brid, perhaps) may be appropriate, rather than one specifically about naming.

Joan

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: jeddy
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 11:07 AM

what about roy baileys' everything possible? this is lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUBc6-keVIQ

it never fails to bring me to tears.

take care and have a wonderful day

jade x x x x x

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Cats
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 11:28 AM

Think I have found it.. Hello Miss Clara Louise [ or in this case Miss Tegan Wright] which Rod Shearman wrote.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 11:37 AM

Oh, but this is right up my alley. Humanist (check!), regularly perform naming ceremonies (Unitarian Universalist minister - check!), folksinger (check - within certain parameters of the word "folksinger" that include one whose music includes, but is not limited to, the traditional).

Here's a couple to start with - Sally Rogers's Circle of the Sun -

Babies are born in the circle of the sun
Circle of the sun on the birthin' day....

"Everything Possible," mentioned above, would be ideal - I sang this as the "Children's Time" at our Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and there were actual tears coming from the parents. And I think it was a compliment. I've recently recorded it, but the CD is still in mixdown. The song was written by topical singer (and, completely coincidentally, now a UU minister) Fred Small. The chords are a little complicated to work out, depending on your skill level, but can be found in Fred's songbook, Breaking from the Line, or from the UU hymnal supplement, Singing the Journey. You could probably borrow that from your local UU congregation.

While you're at it, there's a nice rewrite of "All Through the Night," that makes it not a Christmas song. It's under the title "Sleep, My Child" in the regular hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition. I can't use it for dedications, though - I've used it for symbolic memorials for children (a Matthew Shepherd memorial and a memorial for a little Iraqi girl killed by an American cluster bomb) and can't get through it without crying.

Any number of lullabies could work nicely. Though I still like Kat's suggestion. Maybe if I get a chance I'll do a quick home recording of my own "Cora's Lullaby" or "Tumble Home to Me" and post a link - those would work too.

There are some marvelous Woody Guthrie children's songs, and some of those could work nicely. Right now my two-year old's favorite comes to mind:


Do you wanta see me grow?
Do you wanta see me grow?
Zoop zoop zoopity zoop
Thats the way I grow.

Do you wanta see me eat?
Do you wanta see me eat?
Zoop zoop zoopity zoop
Like a piggy eats.

Do you wanta see me drink?
Do you wanta see me drink?
Zoop zoop zoopity zoop
Like a horsie drinks.

Chorus:
Zoop zoop zoop zoopity zoop
Zoop zoop zoop zoopity zoop

similarly:
swim: like a fishie swims
run: like a doggie runs
grow: that's the way a grow
hop: like a rabbit hops
climb: like a monkey climbs
(Repeat Chorus)
sleep: like a baby sleeps
grow: that's the way I grow.

That one's on a recording from Rounder called Daddy-o-Daddy - Rare Family Songs of Woody Guthrie.

For me the trick would be coming up with songs that respect the child as a child - not songs about how quickly they grow up, or how precious and perfect their lives are. Just songs that honor the baby or small child as who they are - potential and all.


Incidentally, noticing your time frame - of all of these, the easiest to learn is "Circle of the Sun." And it works for a garden.

Dan

Subject: Lyr Add: INTO MY ARMS (Nick Cave)
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 12:33 PM

Last humanist naming ceremony I went to the song chosen was Nick Cave's beautiful "Into My Arms". Not entirely convinced how humanist it is but its a lovely song.

INTO MY ARMS
(Nick Cave)

I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
To each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

And I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candle burning
And make her journey bright and pure
That she will keep returning
Always and evermore
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: open mike
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 01:09 PM

the name game...banana fanna fo...

sue sue bo boo
banana fanna fo foo
fee fi mo moo sue...

tim tim bo bim
banana fanna fo fim
fee fi mo mim tim

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 02:14 PM

Thanks, Dan!:-)

Mudcatter Black Walnut aka Debbie Carroll, has some really nice songs on her CD, Simple Beautiful, esp. the title song. You can hear samples on that page.

Subject: Lyr Add: BARRY IS THE BABY'S NAME (Allan Sherman)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Jul 09 - 07:32 PM

At times like these, I always turn to Allan Sherman:

"Barry Is The Baby's Name"
(Parody of George M. Cohan's "Mary")

We'll call him Barry, Barry.
That'll be the baby's name.
We thought of Lance or Josh,
But, oh, my gosh,
They're not the same.

But if it's Barry, Barry,
That's a name with style and grace.
And if he's not a he,
It still could be
Like in Barrie Chase.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Bugsy
Date: 22 Jul 09 - 12:48 AM

Yep, "Everything Possible" (Fred Small) Has my vote.

CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: GUEST,haysied
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 12:15 PM

HELP HELP HELP I have a naming ceremony for my son in a week and have left it to the last minute to sort out the music. Please can someone give me some ideas. Thank you x

Subject: Lyr Add: MISS CLARA LOUISE (Rod Shearman)
From: Cats
Date: 11 Aug 09 - 03:52 PM

I actually sang Rod Shearman's Miss Clara Louise which was written for his neice. John the Fish who officiated at the Humanist Naming ceremony has taken the words away with him as he thought it could be used at other naming ceremonies

Hey there young lady, I am pleased to meet you
Hello Miss Clara Louise,
Along with the others met here to greet you
Hello Miss Clara Louise
Your friends and admirers and your relations
Giving you welcome and adulation
All here together for this grand occasion
Hello Miss Clara Louise.

The big moments come, your official appearance,
Hello Miss Clara Louise,
Out from the wings you've made your entrance,
Hello Miss Clara Louise,
We feel the honour seeing your debut
Carrying the day with grace that becomes you,
Doing full credit to the time and the venue
Hello Miss Clara Louise.

Your manner is cute; your demeanour is charming,
Hello Miss Clara Louise,
Your smile is infectious, completely disarming,
Hello Miss Clara Louise,
And believe me you can take it for granted
We're under the spell your blue eyes have planted,
And, one and all, we feel enchanted,
Hello Miss Clara Louise


Aren't you the picture of infant perfection?
Hello Miss Clara Louise,
A miniature person and on reflection,
Hello Miss Clara Louise,
To this crazy world you bring a meaning
The more that I think to me it is seeming
The fruit and the joy of your mum and dad's dreaming
Hello Miss Clara Louise.

I'd have you know we love you dearly
Hello Miss Clara Louise
I'm sure that it's obvious and it shows clearly
Hello Miss Clara Louise
It shows in the faces the cameras will capture
A pose full of pride and dignified stature
Part of the care, the love and the rapture
Hello Miss Clara Louise.

And now in closing we'd like to give you
Hello Miss Clara Louise
Our love and best wishes to have and take with you
Hello Miss Clara Louise
Through the long years your days with joy filling
This thing to you, one and all, we are willing
And that your life is grand and fulfilling
Hello Miss Clara Louise.
Hello Miss Clara Louise.


you can change the name to fit and there are 2 more verses but these were perfect. for a boy it would be easy to change slightly.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Dead Horse
Date: 12 Aug 09 - 08:49 AM

Whatever else you do, DONT go down the Chanty route.
Parents get a bit edgy when you smash a bottle of champagne on baby's head. :-)

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: GUEST,anna
Date: 10 May 11 - 10:12 AM

Found great advice on this website. Find out all you need to know about naming ceremonies. Naming ceremony

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 May 11 - 11:07 AM

there are a few music hall songs about naming children with many middle names. Can't think of the title but the surname was Jones.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 May 11 - 11:10 AM

seem to remember Ladysmith as one of the names.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Richard from Liverpool
Date: 10 May 11 - 05:55 PM

The Cruel Mother, Child Ballad #20

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 May 11 - 06:17 PM

Dr Seuss's "Too Many Daves", as set to music by Anne Feeney and D.C. Fitzgerald. (They used the tune of "The Rakes of Kildare").

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: phinque
Date: 13 May 11 - 05:58 PM

I've done the The Circle Game at all my grandchildrens' namings.

Subject: RE: Songs for a Naming Ceremony
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 07:31 PM

I love the lyrics to the Hello Miss Clara Louise but where can I find the music?!!!!!!