3 Kids Songs Sung by Famous Rockers That Bridge Two Worlds

For those who have or have had young children, one thing about music is pretty clear: much of what is aimed at kids is candy-coated crap. It’s repetitive, soulless stuff meant to daze a kid’s mind as much or more than to stimulate and encourage it. But that’s why some of rock music’s most famous artists have taken it upon themselves to flip the script.

Here below, we wanted to explore three such songs. A trio of tunes sung by big-name rockers that both entertain and enliven. Both push the envelope and show kids what music can actually sound like—read: good music. Indeed, these are three kids songs sung by famous rocker that bridge two worlds.

[RELATED: Chris Ballew Readies New Caspar Babypants Album, Reflects on POTUSA]

“Stompy the Bear” by Caspar Babypants from Hot Dog! (2012)

When people tell stories about creatures venturing into their towns, there are often different, even conflicting details. And here, Caspar Babypants—aka Chris Ballew, the former frontman for the Seattle-born rock band The Presidents of the United States of America—plays with that idea for his beloved kids song “Stompy the Bear.” No one knows what color the bear is, no one knows exactly what his modus operandi is. Yet, Ballew, who has released many albums under his Caspar moniker, sings about Stompy with joy and verve. He belts,

Here comes Stompy the Bear
Here comes Stompy the Bear
Here comes Stompy the Bear

Some say he is brown
And he will shake this town
If he ever comes this way again

Some say he is green
And really, really mean
But he just wants someone to boogie with
Go!

“Little Monster Babies” by Kimya Dawson from Alphabutt (2008)

From Kimya Dawson’s 2008 solo LP Alphabutt, this song seems to be inspired by the common occurrence of young kids walking through their play areas and knocking down towers of blocks their parents made for them. Dawson, who rose to fame thanks to the band Moldy Peaches, is a parent and supremely adept at writing music that both satisfies kids and their guardians. And Dawson’s 2008 LP Alphabutt is a record entirely dedicated to such songs. And on this one, Dawson sings,

Little monster babies destroying my town
I built it out of blocks and they knocked it down
I built it back up, they knock it back down
Little monster babies destroying my town

Little monster babies destroying my town

“SpongeBob SquarePants Theme” by Avril Lavigne from The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie – Music from the Movie and More… (2004)

Pop-punk artist Avril Lavigne sang the theme song for the movie based on the popular cartoon show Spongebob SquarePants. Giving the catchy tune a big rock vibe, Lavigne sang with vim and vigor and brought some MTV style to the offering. For all those who love the cartoon, it was likely a hit in their households and beloved when the cartoon film hit the big screen. On the offering Lavigne sings,

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
SpongeBob SquarePants
Absorbent and yellow and porous is he
SpongeBob SquarePants
If nautical nonsense be something you wish
SpongeBob SquarePants
Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish
SpongeBob SquarePants (Ready?)
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images