Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)

{{Infobox song

| name = Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)

| cover = Billy Joel Lullaby.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| B-side = Two Thousand Years

| released = March 1994{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/436/mode/2up?q=Billy+Joel|title=Great Rock Discography|date=1995 |page=437|isbn=978-0-86241-541-9 |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles |publisher=Canongate Press }}

| recorded = 1992, in New York City

| studio =

| genre = Pop{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2020/04/billy-joel-was-the-ultimate-genre-hopping-musical-magpie|title=Still Billy Joel to Me Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=April 30, 2020|access-date=April 4, 2024}}

| length = 3:34

| label = Columbia

| writer = Billy Joel

| producer = Billy Joel, Danny Kortchmar

| prev_title = All About Soul

| prev_year = 1993

| next_title = To Make You Feel My Love

| next_year = 1997

}}

"Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" is the seventh track from Billy Joel's 1993 album River of Dreams, released in 1994 as the fourth and final single for the album. It was inspired by Alexa Ray Joel, his daughter by Christie Brinkley. The song is in the key of G major.

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 titled Goodnight, My Angel (A Lullabye) 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 titled New York State of Mind and illustrated by Izak.

Background

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.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PMS9cI_iKs youtube.com] 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 "Lullabye" appeared as an alternate version on the box set My Lives, and on An Evening of Questions and Answers...& a Little Music.

Critical reception

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report described "Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)" as a "sweet and tender ballad that is bound to touch the hearts of all who hear it."{{cite magazine|first=Dave|last=Sholin|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/94/Gavin-1994-03-04.pdf|title=Gavin Picks — Singles|magazine=Gavin Report|date=March 4, 1994|page=|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}

Personnel

Billy Joel – lead vocals, piano
Lewis Del Gatto – orchestra manager
Ira Newborn – orchestration

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Chart (1994)

!Peak
position

Canada Top Singles (RPM){{Cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.2435&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=v7d4j9doetqh7hdkuucdfi2lv5 |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023142750/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.2435&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=v7d4j9doetqh7hdkuucdfi2lv5 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

|align="center"|27

{{single chart|New Zealand|43|artist=Billy Joel|song=Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)|access-date=August 20, 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboardhot100|77|artist=Billy Joel|access-date=August 20, 2021}}

{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|18|artist=Billy Joel|access-date=August 20, 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable"

!Chart (1994)

!Position

US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAgEAAAAMBAJ|title=1994 The Year in Music|magazine=Billboard|volume=106|issue=52|page=YE-68|date=December 24, 1994|access-date=August 20, 2021}}

|align="center"|49

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Billy Joel|title=Lullabye|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1994|certyear=2021|access-date=November 20, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}