"Little Goodnight" by John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas tells the story of a couple named Jimmy and Mary who have a daughter named Little Goodnight. The song starts with the couple meeting on the Fourth of July and falls in love with Mary's beautiful brown eyes. Nine months later, they have a daughter who is as pretty as a sunset, and they name her Little Goodnight. However, Little Goodnight struggles with sleep and keeps the neighborhood awake at night. Despite their love for their daughter, Jim and Mary find it difficult to cope with the lack of sleep. They try various remedies, including visiting doctors and taking potions, but nothing seems to help Little Goodnight sleep. The song then jumps ahead to when Little Goodnight is grown up. She is still unable to sleep properly and has a troubled life. The lyrics mention a woman on the street who listens to a song by Diana Ross, and Jim and Mary hope that Little Goodnight's dreams will come true. Ultimately, the song conveys the challenges that Jim and Mary face as parents, trying to provide love and support to their daughter while also dealing with their own exhaustion. It also touches upon the hope and dreams they have for Little Goodnight despite her sleep troubles.
