Here are three great parenting songs to start your week: Harry Chapin’s “Cats in the Cradle”, Elton John’s “The Greatest Discovery”, and a recent one, Cloud Cult’s “You Were Born”.

The best part of that first video is what Mr. Chapin says during the introduction: “And frankly, this song scares me to death.” Touché, sir.

“Go to Sleep You Little Creep” is a less-serious entry into the pantheon of parenting songs, but it’s great nonetheless. Anyone who has been unexpectedly roused in the middle of the night to clean up “urp” (or whatever your particular child vomit euphemism is) can probably relate to Mr. Edwards’ frustration, something akin to: “I love you dearly and completely, little one. You are the center of my world. Now please, for the love of all that is good and merciful, go back to sleep you little shit.”

Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos new album, Sling Shot to Heaven, came out a couple weeks ago and can be bought here.

And since they’re from Indiana, it’s only appropriate that they also wrote one of the best songs ever about The Circle City*, entitled “Broadripple is Burning”, which you can hear below as well.

(*An admittedly uncrowded category of songs.)

RIYL: Band of Horses, Sea Wolf, good music, rare nights of good sleep