Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)
It's not very often that a song will make me weepy, but today it happened. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) by the Dixie Chicks played on my iTunes mix, and I listened to the words for the first time... and I couldn't help but think of my little Noey and the joy he has brought to my life.
by Dixie Chicks
(written by Radney Foster)
Dragon tales and the "water is wide"
Pirate's sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams
The rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon, we'll find the mouse
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams
God bless mommy and match box cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God heard "Amen," wherever you are
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Godspeed
Godspeed
Sweet dreams
Last night, while Noah and I were playing trains, a thunderstorm rumbled through. We turned off all the lights and just sat and watched (and listened) to the stormy weather. Every once in a while a flash would light up the sky, and we would listen for the thunder. The windows were open, so we listened to the sound of the rain falling on the trees. When the storm had passed, we listened to the sound of rain-water trickling through the gutters... as a lone frog croaked in the distance. And of course, being a 3-year-old, he asked lots and lots of questions. :-) I never wanted it to end...
Comments
I did a little digging, and found some more info on why Radney Foster wrote this for his son. From an 'Artist Bio' for the Dixie Chicks at Buy.com :
GODSPEED (SWEET DREAMS) (words and music by Radney Foster)
NATALIE: Radney wrote that song for his son. His wife was moving his three-year-old son to France because she'd met a new guy. He tried to change legislation and stop it but it just couldn't happen. A lot of people that don't read the credits think that I wrote it about my son Slade. I wish I had. Emmylou Harris was on Radney's demo. Usually we do songs completely different from the demo and we like to make them our own, but we pretty much copied his version of that one. Emmylou's is the only guest appearance vocal on the album and her voice comes in like an angel. It gives me chills. We got to play our version for Radney and his son, who was visiting from France at the time, and it was so interesting to see the bond between the two of them. His son still listens to that song every night before he goes to bed, and he's nine now.
EMILY: I think for Natalie having a little boy and me having a little boy on the way, this song is very powerful to us. I mean, we're in such mommy mode right now between the nesting and just starting families. This is just one of those sweet songs that we can imagine being able to sing to our children.
(That would be Natalie Maines and Emily Robison of the Dixie Chicks).
Posted by: Jeff | May 23, 2006 9:25 AM
Those lyrics are wonderful, Jeff, and so is Noah!
Posted by: Mom | May 23, 2006 5:53 PM
You made me cry!
Posted by: mrs darling | May 23, 2006 8:01 PM
Love this song. Give a listen to "Pony Man" by Gordon Lightfoot sometime. Great bedtime song.
Posted by: Lynn | May 24, 2006 8:54 AM
Your post made me long for my little boys again. It makes me feel good to know that you're not afraid to let the world know you LOVE your children
Posted by: gramma_s | June 6, 2006 10:57 AM
I was at a funeral of a 20 year old boy who was killed in a car accident, and as they screed a montage of him playing foot ball at age seven they played this song and it was so beautiful. I had to cry
Posted by: angus | July 19, 2006 4:06 AM
This song has the most moving lyrics I have heard and it is sung so beautifully. I must admit I cry and think of my 2 young children every time I hear it. It makes me love them more and more (if possible).
Posted by: Greg | August 19, 2006 1:32 PM