The article discusses a “lullaby” as a syncretic genre, indicating its inspirations, realizations and modifications in the Czech literature. The traditional form of a lullaby, to a large extent, references the children’s literature. However, as evidenced by the centuries-long tradition of the genre, the range of addressees is considerably wider. A lullaby goes back to various sources of inspiration, assuming different forms of realization, ranging from songs firmly established in the folklore, intended for children, to works for adults, taking up the social and moral subject matter. The classic form of a lullaby references idyllic images of childhood, whereas the modified form emphasizes the agitation character of the work.