Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)

"Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" is the seventh track and third single from Billy Joel's 1993 album River of Dreams. It was inspired by Alexa Ray Joel, his daughter by Christie Brinkley. The song is in the key of G major.

The song was originally written as a prelude to the song "The River of Dreams" in the style of a monophonic Gregorian chant. Joel had written English words in the chant describing a man who had lost his faith, and had then had the words translated into Latin.^[1] He changed his mind upon hearing the recording, and incorporated it into the song River of Dreams. He later removed the interlude from the final studio version of "River of Dreams", and instead wrote lyrics to the melody that reflected his sentiment toward Alexa Ray, who was a young child at the time of writing. The version of "River of Dreams" incorporating Lullaby appeared as an alternate version on the box set My Lives, and on An Evening of Questions and Answers...And A Little Music.

In 2004, it was announced that Joel had agreed to write two children's books for Scholastic, the U.S. publisher. The first book was entitled Goodnight, My Angel (A Lullaby) and is a picture book based on the song and illustrated by Yvonne Gilbert. "Reassuring children that they are not alone or could be abandoned is very important for their well-being," Joel said in a statement in 2004. The second book was entitled New York State of Mind and illustrated by Izak.

Cover versions

The German a cappella group Wise Guys included a version of this song in their 1997 album Alles im grünen Bereich^[2]
The Gas House Gang (quartet) included an arrangement of this song by Kirk Young on their 2003 CD "The Gas House Gang's Fifth"^[3]
John Stamos performed it on the 2006 charity album Unexpected Dreams–Songs From the Stars.
Cantabile - the London Quartet arranged this for their album Lullabyes and Goodbyes - Cantabile
In 2009, the song was also performed by Celtic Woman^[4]
Philip Lawson arranged this song for The King's Singers.
In 2010, it was covered by Libera on their Peace DeLuxe album, with Joshua Madine as the soloist.
In 2010, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed an all-male vocal arrangement by Ryan Murphy on the album "Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir".
In 2011, Celine Dion performed it on The Oprah Winfrey Show and her residency show, Celine. It was also included on her 2013 English album Loved Me Back to Life as a bonus track in the Deluxe edition.
It was featured in the 2012 film Song for Marion, performed by Terence Stamp
In 2013, Hayley Westenra covered the song on her album Hushabye.
In 2014, the Waubonsie Valley High School Marching Warriors included a rendition in their show, Dreamland.
In 2014, X Factor UK finalist Daniel Evans recorded an emotional version on YouTube and it appeared as the final song from his best of album, Emotions.
In 2015, Nelson S. performed this song in front of a packed house at kofa auditorium.

Chart positions

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Canadian Singles Chart^[5]	27
New Zealand Singles Chart	43
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	77
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	18

References

External links

Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Billy Joel

Studio albums	Cold Spring Harbor Piano Man Streetlife Serenade Turnstiles The Stranger 52nd Street Glass Houses The Nylon Curtain An Innocent Man The Bridge Storm Front River of Dreams Fantasies & Delusions

Live albums	Songs in the Attic KOHЦEPT 2000 Years: The Millennium Concert 12 Gardens Live Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert

Compilations	Greatest Hits, Vol. 1–3 Souvenir: The Ultimate Collection The Ultimate Collection The Essential Billy Joel Piano Man: The Very Best of Billy Joel My Lives The Hits

Singles	"Piano Man" "You're My Home" "Worse Comes to Worst" "Travelin' Prayer" "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" "The Entertainer" "Just the Way You Are" "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" "Only the Good Die Young" "She's Always a Woman" "Vienna" "The Stranger" "My Life" "Big Shot" "Honesty" "Until the Night" "All for Leyna" "You May Be Right" "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" "Don't Ask Me Why" "Sometimes a Fantasy" "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (Live) "She's Got a Way" (Live) "Pressure" "Allentown" "Goodnight Saigon" "Tell Her About It" "Uptown Girl" "An Innocent Man" "The Longest Time" "Leave a Tender Moment Alone" "This Night" "Keeping the Faith" "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" "The Night Is Still Young" "Modern Woman" "A Matter of Trust" "This Is the Time" "Baby Grand" "Back in the U.S.S.R." (Live) "We Didn't Start the Fire" "Leningrad" "I Go to Extremes" "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" "That's Not Her Style" "And So It Goes" "Shameless" "All Shook Up" "The River of Dreams" "All About Soul" "No Man's Land" "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" "To Make You Feel My Love" "Hey Girl" "All My Life" "Christmas in Fallujah"

Other songs	"Captain Jack" "Root Beer Rag" "New York State of Mind" "Prelude/Angry Young Man" "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)" "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" "Zanzibar" "Big Man on Mulberry Street"

Tours	An Innocent Man Tour Face to Face 1994 Face to Face 1995 Face to Face 1998 Face to Face 2001 Face to Face 2003 Face to Face 2009 Face to Face 2010 Billy Joel in Concert

Film	The Last Play at Shea

See also	Discography Movin' Out Billy Joel Band The Hassles Attila Alexa Ray Joel Christie Brinkley Katie Lee "Movin' Out" (Glee)

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