Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Songs that are Memories

This is the song my husband would sing as a lullaby to my son. I cannot hear this song without thinking of my first born, sleeping in my husband's arms.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise, oh
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

-- Beatles



Between IVF/ICSI cycle 1 and cycle 2 was a dark time. We (probably foolishly) went to see "Knocked Up". This song stayed with us. We cannot hear this song without thinking of our daughter and how she was conceived.

Everything she sees
she says she wants.
Everything she wants
I see she gets.

That's my daughter in the water
everything she owns I bought her
Everything she owns.
That's my daughter in the water,
everything she knows I taught her.
Everything she knows.

Everything I say
she takes to heart.
Everything she takes
she takes apart.

That's my daughter in the water
every time she fell I caught her.
Every time she fell.
That's my daughter in the water,
I lost every time I fought her.
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
I lost every time.

Every time she blinks
she strikes somebody blind.
Everything she thinks
blows her tiny mind.
That's my daughter in the water,
who'd have ever thought her?
Who'd have ever thought?
That's my daughter in the water,
I lost everytime I fought her
Yea, I lost every time.

--Loudon Wainwright III


I remember the very nice episode of Futurama that I heard this song in. Listening to the lyrics, I think of both my children and of how the relationship between mother and child changes and grows.

When I see you alone,
I see what's in your mind.
You love me yes you do,
you don't need to tell me.
I know you love me most,
no one else take my place.
You need me, yes you do.
Forever, and ever.

When we kiss,
I see what's in your heart.
You love me yes you do,
you don't need to tell me.
I know you love me most,
no one else take my place.
You need me, you do.
Forever, and ever.

We are in love, baby love child
I take you so high, groovy love child
Give me a kiss, baby love child
Do it again

Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults

We are in bed at night,
I can see what you want.
You want me yes you do,
ai shitemasu. (*)
I know how you feel,
you have all of my heart.
I give you myself.
Forever and ever

We are in love, baby love child
I take you so high, groovy love child
Give me a kiss, baby love child
Do it again

Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults
Attention adults

--Pizzicato Five


Recently, I have gotten in touch with some old friends from my high school years. Everytime I see their updates on their lives, I think of this song.

Old friends,
Old friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends.
A newspaper blown though the grass
Falls on the round toes
Of the high shoes
Of the old friends.

Old friends,
Winter companions,
The old men
Lost in their overcoats,
Waiting for the sunset.
The sounds of the city,
Sifting through trees,
Settle like dust
On the shoulders
Of the old friends.

Can you imagine us
Years from today,
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange
To be seventy.
Old friends,
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears -- Paul Simon


And, of course, during the holiday season, I think of these two songs:

The Christmas Wish

I don't know if you believe in Christmas
or if you have presents underneath a Christmas tree
but if you believe in love
that will be more than enough
for you to come and celebrate with me
for I have held the precious gift that love brings
even though I never saw a Christmas star
I know there is a light I have felt it burn inside
and I have seen it shining from afar

Christmas is the time to come together
a time to put all differences aside
and I reach out my hand to the family of man
to share the joy I feel at Christmas time

for the truth that binds us all together
I would like to say a simple prayer
that at this special time you will have true peace of mind
and love to last throughout the coming year

and if you believe in love
that will be more than enough
for peace to last throughout the coming year
and peace on earth will last throughout the year.

-- Dan Wheetman

The Christians and the Pagans Lyrics:
Amber called her uncle, said ’we’re up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having solstice, now we need a place to stay.’
And her christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang mary on a tree,
He watched his song hang candy canes all made with red dye number three.
He told his niece, ’its christmas eve, I know our life is not your style,’
She said, ’christmas is like solstice, and we miss you and it’s been awhile,’

So the christians and the pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.

The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till timmy turned to amber and said, ’is it try that you’re a wtich? ’
His mom jumped up and said, ’the pies are burning,’ and she hit the kitchen,
And it was jane who spoke, she said, ’its true, your cousins not a christian,’
’but we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your god, and we find magic everywhere,’

So the christians and the pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magics in the learning,
Cause now when christians sit with pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.

When amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, ’really, no, don’t bother.’
Ambers uncle saw how amber looked like tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadnt spoken in a year,
He thought hed call him up and say, ’its christmas and your daughters here.’
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, so his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
’can I be a pagan? ’ dad said, ’well discuss it when they leave.’

So the christians and the pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.

-- Dar Williams


I realize that there are so many more songs that mean so much to me. Hearing a Rogers and Hammerstein musical number will remind me of my Grammie. Or, better yet, anything from West Side Story. Hearing Carpenters reminds me of my dad. Hearing classical music reminds me of my dad. Hearing any ELO reminds me especially of my husband when we first met. There are so many times that music has been such an important part of my life. Many times that the lyrics felt as if they were meant for just me.

What songs bring special memories to you?

4 comments:

MrsSpock said...

I love that Dar Williams song- it's in my blog's music player.

Rachel said...

Hi, and thanks for stopping by my blog.
The 10 year age gap between my kids is 'interesting.' I never intended to have 10 years between kids, but infertility treatment has a mind of its own, right?
I guess it's good that the 2 will probably never have events going on at the same time, so I won't have to 'choose' which to go to.

Kate said...

I do love Blackbird and I have always thought that it makes a good lullaby.

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

Using this post as my Blogger Bingo "wish you had written" entry.

You've picked some great songs. Blackbird is a longtime favorite, S&G is always a winner, and The Christians and The Pagans is in December rotation around here every year.

I'm very partial to McCartney's Calico Skies for these babies.

You are the only person I know who would cite a song from Futurama. Blurn!

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