It ain't you babe
25/01/22 07:59
My quest this week is to reclaim, on behalf of all those aged under two years of age, the words babe and baby from the clutches of songwriters. Along with “I love you” it must be the most misused song lyrical gambit of all time. If you become the focus of someone’s affection in song would you not question why they would want to call you Baby?
Babies are cute - yes. Babies like to be held and cuddled – yes. Babies are completely helpless and depend on others for all their needs – yes. Babies cry a lot – yes. Babies wear nappies because they are still developing critical life skills such as toilet training. Babies burb, dribble and need to be patted on the back when they get wind. Babies need to be placed on their backs with face clear in a smoke free environment for safe sleep. NB: I added that one as I work in child health plus just because I can.
Babies generally like having their tummies tickled and do not always respond to the words ‘Kitchee Kitchee Goo’ with a smile. Think on that next time you hear a singer extolling the many and various charms of their grown-up lover baby. Tip: check out any song with Babe or Baby in the title and listen to the lyrics.
I recently greeted a small baby person in a pram with that deeply philosophical question “Kitchee Kitchee Goo”. The baby burst into tears. This was understandable in hindsight. The infant was fairly new to the world, had never read any of my column or heard me sing so had no idea of the meaning or deep significance of this Kitchee Kitchee Goo. There was an immediate flurry of recriminations from those present: ‘Now look what you have done’. This left me chastened, resolving in future to stick with the more acceptable formal baby greeting of “Goochee Goochee Goo”.
Babies generally like having their tummies tickled and do not always respond to the words ‘Kitchee Kitchee Goo’ with a smile. Think on that next time you hear a singer extolling the many and various charms of their grown-up lover baby. Tip: check out any song with Babe or Baby in the title and listen to the lyrics.
I recently greeted a small baby person in a pram with that deeply philosophical question “Kitchee Kitchee Goo”. The baby burst into tears. This was understandable in hindsight. The infant was fairly new to the world, had never read any of my column or heard me sing so had no idea of the meaning or deep significance of this Kitchee Kitchee Goo. There was an immediate flurry of recriminations from those present: ‘Now look what you have done’. This left me chastened, resolving in future to stick with the more acceptable formal baby greeting of “Goochee Goochee Goo”.