When my son was about a year old, I sifted through Spotify in search of a lullaby playlist. Babies love lullabies. Calms the chaos. I love punk rock, which my wife thinks is pure chaos yet, weirdly to her, calms me. As a lark, I searched “punk rock lullabies.” I didn’t expect any results. It was done in fun. A what if…?
Spotify doesn’t have every song or band I once listened to. Hence, my continued love of the cassette tape and CD. But the world’s most popular music streaming service does host albums I didn’t even know were a thing, and occasionally surprises me with a gem. Spotify knows I like Social Distortion, too, based on my listening history.
And what should appear in the search results that night ten years ago but an album titled “Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Lullaby Versions of Social Distortion.”
Is what you are saying true, Spotify? That I can assist in getting my baby to sleep all the while jamming out to Social D? Yes, please. So, as I’m sitting there in a rocking chair after reading ‘Doggies: A Counting and Barking Book’ by Sandra Boynton, I’ve got this playlist going. Usually I’m trying to tiptoe out of the room. But tonight, I’m still seated in a state of bliss.
My one year old son is falling asleep in his crib and I’m reversing time, transforming into a fifteen year old version of myself, as “Story of My Life” starts up through the tiny speaker. There are no words on the lullabies, but I know them by heart: “Life goes by so fast. You only want to do what you think is right. Close your eyes and then it’s past. Story of my life.”
If you’re reading this thinking it’s an abomination to all things holy and punk rock, I’m here to tell you, as a parent who once sported a mohawk and used safety pins as earrings, it is not an abomination but a blessing above which no words can properly convey for us punk rock parents who’ve heard Johanne Brahms one too many times. Nothing wrong with Brahms, but I need variety.
Not to mention, until Mike Ness and Social D gives us middle age and older fans that acoustic album we’ve been yammering on and on about, this is the closest I’m getting.
The night of my Spotify discovery was years ago, in 2014, so my son is no longer a baby. We listen to regular Social D together now. But sometimes, like right now when I need a little punk rock in my life and everyone is fast asleep in the house, I hit play on Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star: Social Distortion edition. It’s music to my ears.
Here’s the full playlist from the album:
Angel’s Wings
Reach for the Sky
Machine Gun Blues
Bad Luck
Sick Boys
I Was Wrong
Story of My Life
Mommy’s Little Monster
Ball and Chain
Far Behind
Prison Bound
Ring of Fire
Don’t Think Twice
P.S. The company behind this has created versions of other bands’ songs. This post was about Social Distortion and punk rock, but if you like The Who, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slayer, and a wide variety of other bands and artists, they may very well have you covered. Here’s a link to their full music catalog.
