She sang backing vocals on the Van Halen song "Could This Be Magic?" and on Neil Young's recording of Ian Tyson's folk classic "Four Strong Winds".
Born in Helena, Montana, Larson got her start singing with Hoyt Axton's band and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. She worked as a session vocalist for Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Neil Young, Christopher Cross, Little Feat, Mary Kay Place, The Dirt Band, The Beach Boys and The Doobie Brothers. In 1979, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. She also had a minor role in the 1988 film Twins.
In December 1997, she died in Los Angeles from complications arising from a cerebral edema at the age of 45. She was survived by her husband Russell Kunkel and her daughter Elsie May Larson-Kunkel (born 1990), who has also found some entertainment experience.
Larson is buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
I Bid You Goodnight
Nicolette Larson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay down and take your rest
Won't you lay your head upon your mother's breast
O I love you, but God loves you the best
and I bid you good night,
good night,
and I bid you good night.
good night,
good night
Lay down my sweet baby,
Lay down and take your rest
Won't you lay your head upon your mother's breast
O I love you, but God loves you the best
and I bid you good night,
good night,
and I bid you good night.
Bid you good night
good night,
good night
Lay down my sweet baby,
Lay down and take your rest
Won't you lay your head upon your mother's breast
O I love you, but God loves you the best
and I bid you good night,
good night,
and I bid you good night.
Bid you good night
good night,
good night
Nicolette Larson's song "I Bid You Goodnight" is a lullaby that a mother sings to her baby before putting her to bed. The song begins with the mother telling her baby to lay down and rest, and to have her head resting on her mother's breast. This imagery suggests a sense of security, comfort, and love. The mother then professes her love for her baby but admits that God loves her the best. By doing so, she is telling her baby that there is someone who loves her more than her, which could also symbolize a religious belief or hope in a divine protector. Throughout the song, the mother repeats the phrase "I bid you good night" as a way of saying goodbye until they see each other again in the morning. The repetition of the phrase adds a soothing and calming effect to the song, making it even more of a perfect lullaby.
Line by Line Meaning
Lay down my sweet baby,
Rest now, my beloved child
Lay down and take your rest
Relax and sleep peacefully
Won't you lay your head upon your mother's breast
Use your mother's chest as a pillow
O I love you, but God loves you the best
I care for you deeply, but God cares for you even more
and I bid you good night,
I say farewell for now
good night,
Have a good rest, good night
and I bid you good night.
Once again, farewell for now
Bid you good night
Wishing you a peaceful sleep
good night,
May you have a restful night
good night
Sleep well
Writer(s): Nicolette Larson, Andrew Gold
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.