Aidan always gets a song or two before bed, and an early favorite was Peter, Paul, & Mary's *Hangman*:

Slack your rope, hangman, slack it for a while.
I think I see my ____ comin’, riding many a mile.
____ have you brought me hope, or have you paid my fee
Or have you come to see me hanging from the gallows tree?

I have not brought you hope, I have not paid your fee
Yes I have come to see you hangin’ from the gallows tree.

This poor guy sees his mother, father, sister, brother, and pretty much everyone in his family riding up one at a time, just to prolong the misery. Eventually his true love arrives and gets him off the hook.

A little morbid? Yes, but it does end happily (eventually). A bit repetitious? Yes, but that’s a plus with two-year-olds. It also allows easy substitution of friends and family into the verses, with Aidan eventually riding to the rescue.

One evening during our bedtime ritual, Aidan requested a song I hadn’t heard of. I assumed it was part of Angie’s repetoire and asked him to repeat the title, so I could give it my best shot. After the third or fourth time, I finally recognized his request:

Aidan: “Daddy, sing Slap Your Own Penguin.”