These are two of the most important things in my life. Whilst others may well debate the importance of music, I think we will all agree that family is everything to us. Back in June 2018 our family was blessed with the birth of my first (and so far only) granddaughter. Not surprisingly, this major life moment didn’t go unnoticed here on my blog, and I wrote two posts about her birth, and my hopes for her future, both of which were themed around a song. I mentioned these in a comment chat on a friend’s blog the other night, and it struck me that many of you won’t have seen those posts before. Both have been reprised, but as that was two years ago it seemed a good enough reason to edit these into a combined post, as the thoughts and feelings I shared then are still just as valid. The first of these pieces spent a while in my ‘Top Ten Posts’ list but has since been supplanted – it is now #11! In keeping with how I was feeling at the time, it was titled after the featured song, and this is what I said:
I HOPE YOU DANCE
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about family, and specifically about how we create our own little dynasty. In our lifetimes, we are nurtured by parents who instil in us the basis of the values by which we live our lives. Sadly, for some, this process is unsuccessful, and I know that not everyone will feel as lucky as I do. Next Sunday is Father’s Day, and I’ll be celebrating the fact that the man who helped bring me into the world is still going strong at 90. I was born in the days when everything happened in black and white, but still have a few cherished photos from that time, like this one:
As you can probably tell, that was quite some time ago – I was born in September 1953, so that photo dates from Spring 1954. I grew up in a town badly affected by WW2, particularly in terms of bomb damage, and although we didn’t know it at the time the rebuilding of our town was taking place while we were on the brink of some major social and technological changes. My teens – the years during which we begin to understand the world a little better, during which we develop our own values and political sensibilities – were played out against the backdrop of the ‘Swinging Sixties’ and all the changes they brought, not least in pop culture, but also with the growth of democracy, of people finding their voice. This was notable in student protests and demonstrations, which hadn’t happened previously on a large scale. It wasn’t as marked in the UK as elsewhere – for example, France in 1968, or the US in the anti-Vietnam War protests – but as I went through grammar school and university I like to think that my awareness of the changing world developed in me a sense of what is important in life, of the values that helped me to care about what kind of world we were creating for our children and for future generations.
As we become adults, we build relationships of our own and, if we are blessed, we help to continue our own dynastic line. I have two wonderful daughters, and would like to think that I played a little part in helping them become the people they are today. My ex-wife deserves the lion’s share of the credit for helping them become the caring, capable women they have turned out to be, but at least one of them appears to have inherited my socialist tendencies!
One of the overlooked results from a divorce – when you are the one to move out of the family home – is that you tend to leave behind the photo albums. I’ve been looking through the photos I do have, and can’t find any comparable with the one of me and my Dad. I did find a number of shots of my first born with me, like this one, probably taken when she was about 4:
The earliest I could find of her, which looks as though she was no older than 2 or 3, is this one:
I’m not sure if that look reflects guilt or pleasure. Maybe both!
And here’s one of her at 5, with her baby sister:
The reason for these reflections, and of thoughts about what the future holds for the people we love, is that this little girl has just had a baby of her own. I’m now grandfather to a beautiful granddaughter, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I could share many pictures with you, but I’ll spare you the overload! This is our new family member:
She has been born into a good family, with parents who adore her and will give her everything they can to build her life. I wonder what the future holds for her? The world in which we live is, in many ways, safer than the one I grew up in, but there are still many threats to our way of life. But it seems incongruous at such a joyous time to be thinking about that. Politicians, governments etc will continue to come and go, but the core of human life will always be there – and love, families, relationships are the essence of that.
What I hope for my lovely new granddaughter is that she will have the best life possible, and will create and take her own opportunities to make her mark in the world. The title for this piece is that of a song by Lee Ann Womack about her own children, written not long after her second child was born. I’m the world’s worst dancer, but fortunately for me the metaphor is used here to mean that Lee Ann hopes her child will find and take opportunities in life – ‘I hope you never lose your sense of wonder……and when you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance’:
The adorable toddler in the video is probably around 20 now, and I wonder how her life has developed? Like her mum, I have hopes for my granddaughter’s future, but really these all boil down to one thing – that the little ones will be happy in whatever they do. Really, we can’t ask for any more than them taking their chance to dance, can we?
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I followed that up a couple of weeks later with a piece that was originally included in my #SaturdaySongs series. I have edited it down a little for today’s post, as the original went a little OTT on the number of cover versions I included. It is still a great song, though, with an important meaning in the context of this piece:
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN
If, like me, you watch a lot of music videos on YouTube, you’ve probably followed links to some of their recommendations for you. This one was in mine the other day, from a band I’ve loved ever since their first album all the way back in 1969. This song was actually on their second album, Dejà Vu, by which time they had morphed from being CS&N to CSN&Y, though Neil doesn’t feature much on the original version – it is very much a Graham Nash song:
If you Google the song and follow the various links to sites on which people share their interpretations of songs you will find some weird and wonderful stuff. For me, though, this has always been about how our experiences shape us, how we pass that on as we bring up our children, and how they in turn teach us some lessons about life. In other words, it is about the cyclical nature of life’s experience and how it is interwoven into us, and between us and the ones we love. Given that I became a grandfather just over a fortnight ago, you can probably see why this song says so much to me right now – although, to be fair, it has always seemed to me to be much more profound than it might at first appear. The version I shared is a simple acoustic one, just the three guys with guitars and their amazing harmonies. You may have spotted that the signature sound of the original recording – the pedal steel guitar played by the late, great Jerry Garcia (of a little band called the Grateful Dead) – wasn’t part of that live show. I missed hearing it the first time I played the video – it was, after all, part of the reason for the song being a huge US hit single – but I think this stripped-down version really brings home the beauty and the meaning of the song.
One of the hallmarks of a good song is the number of cover versions it inspires, and in particular how closely those covers adhere to the original. Fellow musicians know a good tune when they hear one, although there have been many amazing covers which have completely changed the feel of a song: Joe Cocker’s ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ comes to mind – but not Disturbed’s total massacre of ‘The Sound Of Silence!’ Most of the many cover versions of Teach Your Children are faithful to the original, including the use of the pedal steel. As it is, at heart, a country song, it isn’t surprising that many in that field have covered it. Here’s a lovely version from three of my favourite country musicians:
I think the female harmonies really do the song justice, and it kind of becomes their song while they play it. And on a side note, it’s good to see a former American President singing along – I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t happen now, as the clown in chief doesn’t even know the words to ‘God Bless America,’ yet claims to be the ‘biggest, most beautiful patriot!’ Maybe I should exclude him from any analysis of this song, though, as his children aren’t exactly role models, and he himself has been quoted as saying ‘Growing up, I hardly ever saw my father and it hasn’t done me any harm.’ Yeah, right. Never was the inherent truth of Graham Nash’s song so perfectly demonstrated! (Editorial note from today: remember that this was written in 2018, and the US has reverted to having a ‘normal’ President now).
I’m closing with one more cover version, perhaps the most appropriate of all. Think about the meaning of the song as you watch this video – my guess is that you may have a tear in your eye by the end:
Who needs a pedal steel guitar anyway? The beauty lies in the simplicity, as it does in the acoustic CS&N performance. I hope those kids are encouraged to learn what the song is about, as they represent our future and will be the ones who put its values into place in their own lives and those of future generations. As Graham Nash has said: ‘I wrote ‘Teach Your Children’ and we have a lot to learn from our kids. We have a lot to teach them, but we do have a lot to learn from our children.’
Teach your children well….and know they love you.
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I was reminded of the transience of life whilst watching the Euro 2020 football last Saturday evening, when the dreadful incident involving Christian Eriksen played out in real time on our tv screens. As many said at the time in their reaction to it, it gave us a reminder that we should never need: that we should hold the ones we love close to us, and never forget to remind them of our love for them.
And to close on a positive note, that love is going to be shared again later in the year, as a little sibling is on the way for my granddaughter. She is turning into an adorable, caring little person, with a very cheeky side to her, and I’m going to love watching her care for her little brother or sister as her Mum did with my younger daughter. My two girls are incredibly close, and it is wonderful to see how they support each other: that, to me, is what families are about. And in case you are wondering, this coming Sunday will see another Father’s Day, and the old guy is still happily trundling along.
Family. Don’t ever underestimate how much it means to us.
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A small footnote, added for the 17 June 2022 reblog. I do indeed now have two beautiful granddaughters 😊❤️
Such a lovely post. Your granddaughters are adorable. I love those songs, and I love that photo of you when you were little.
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Thank you, that’s so kind of you to say. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and the lovely music 😊
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Reblogged this on Take It Easy and commented:
This Sunday will be Father’s Day here in the UK, as well as in the US and in many other countries around the world. I posted this piece a year ago today, and felt it right to share it again. It has become a firm favourite of my posts, and has been in my all time top ten since shortly after I published it. It says a lot about the importance of family in our lives, and this is a good time to be reminded of that, I think. And I’m happy to report that my own Dad is still with us: he is now 94, and is suffering from dementia, but he is still my Dad and I love him.
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Oh, Wow, I have not listened to Lee Ann Womack’s song in a long time. “I hope you dance…” was/is a favourite. Your family values and love for your family leaps from the pages, Clive. You ‘get it’ about grandchildren. A great phrase “…if we are blessed, we help to continue our own dynastic line.” Your comment about the photo albums is poignant. Crosby, Stills and Nash bring me down memory lane. And then Kathy Mattea…Alison Krauss…. I love all of the photos you share in this post.
Thank you for enriching my morning, Clive, with a wonderful post. I have subscribed to your blog and I look forward to reading more. Erica
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I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Erica. It combined and updated two posts that are special to me, and the tunes I illustrated them with have both been favourites of mine for ages. They spoke to what I was saying.
Thank you for your kind words and the follow – I’ve returned the compliment 😊
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Loved this
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Thank you, I’m pleased that you did. And thanks for the follow – I’ve reciprocated the compliment.
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Clive, this is a beautiful post filled with very special thoughts and meaning. My grandchildren mean the world to me and as the saying goes, the reward of old age. Teach the children well is one of my favorite songs. It always brings to mind Rodgers and Hammerstein’s song, “You have to be carefully taught to hate”.
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Thank you, Bernadette. Grandchildren are a wonderful gift, aren’t they. I’ll seek out that song, it isn’t one I know. Thanks for the tip 😊
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HI Clive, this is a lovely post and I really enjoyed it. I think being a grandparent is wonderful. When I think of songs about children I always think of this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRQxGgTk_QI. My boys are growing up now. My oldest is in his final year of school and will go to university next year. It passes so quickly.
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Thank you, Robbie, that’s kind of you. That ABBA song is very poignant, and carries a lot of truth. I hope things go well for you when the transition to uni happens.
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I hope by next year uni life is a bit my of a hybrid model than the full time on-line model currently in use. Uni years should involve some fun and socialising.
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Fingers crossed! It will be good to get back to whatever the new normal will be, and uni without fun and friends just wouldn’t be the same.
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Hi Clive, it was interesting for me to read what I wrote about this post last year. Congratulations on your latest grandchild. Have a wonderful fathers day.
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Thanks for coming back to it, Robbie. Hoping to have a phone chat with my Dad on Sunday, which will make it very special 😊
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A beautiful post, my friend. And a timely reminder that politicians and events will come and go, but family is … life. Our children and grandchildren are a compilation of us, our ancestors, our spouses and their ancestors, and we can only hope that at the end of the day they take the best of us all. Congrats on the new soon-to-be arrival! Your choice of this song tribute, “I Hope You Dance” to your first granddaughter is perfect. It’s all we can ask, really, that they grow to be kind, compassionate people and that they find their path to happiness … at least some of the time.
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Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Combining the two older posts into one seemed a good plan, after we spoke about them the other evening. Thanks for the congratulations – if the new arrival turns out as well as my granddaughter is doing I’ll be happy.
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The two posts do go hand in hand. I actually borrowed “I Hope You Dance” for my music post this morning. Oh, I’ll be the new arrival will be a winner too … they both come from good family.
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You can see the way I was thinking at that time, can’t you! Thank you for your kind words. I’ve got some catching up to do on posts today – too much football on tv to distract me! Looking forward to yours 😊
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Indeed I can! Football? Oh, you mean soccer! Heh heh … just kidding. I know that ‘real’ football is not the sort they play here in the U.S. with a brown ovoid pigskin! I’ve been put in my place more than a few times over that!
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Yup, the game where players apply their foot to a ball, as opposed to using their hand with an egg. I’m just settling in for today’s three games…
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🤣 ⚽ 🏈 Enjoy your three games!
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One down, second one part way through. Both have been great games so far. Hopefully three from three isn’t too much to hope for!
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And by now, I imagine all three have ended, as it’s already 7:30 a.m. on your side of the pond! I hope you got your wish!
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The third was good, but not quite up to the standard of the others. I enjoyed my day, though!
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That’s what counts!
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This is one of your best posts ever, and that is saying a lot. Yes, all we really want for our kids and grandchildren is to be happy in whatever pursuit life takes them. I am so looking forward to being a grandparent (hopefully sooner than later.) I’m happy for you, Clive. My brother said he got a real kick out of watching his children as parents at our family reunion. I have to imagine that’s pretty cool.
I love both of your song choices, especially the David Crosby song that I think is one of their best. This may be blasphemous of me to say, but I like both the Simon and Garfunkel version and Disturbed’s take on the same song. I think they’re both compelling in their own way. Perhaps it’s a bit offensive to change the song by giving it a much harder edge, but I still like it as well as the accompanying video. As we discussed before, it’s okay to be a contrarian.
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Many thanks, Pete, that’s really kind of you. You’ve recently experienced first hand how important families are, and I hope you get your wish to be a grandparent: you’d better show this to your son!
I’m glad you enjoyed the song choices, as they both seemed a good fit. As for Disturbed, Paul Simon said he liked their version, so who am I to disagree? (I still hate it though 😉)
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a couple great songs, and a couple of great covers of one of them. The three women version was outstanding.
Congratulations on the news about another grandchild on the way!
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They are good, aren’t they! And I thought it worth editing and resharing them for those, like you, who wouldn’t have seen them before. Thanks for your congratulations- we’re thrilled!
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best of luck to your daughter…
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Thank you 😊
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👍
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Clive, family and music. It is a nice blend as the music offers milestones to family events. Thanks for reprising this post. Belated congratulations. I think the choice of “Teach your children well” is an excellent one. Thanks, Keith
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Thanks for your kind comments, Keith. I’m glad you think it was a good choice – for me, it went well with what I was saying.
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Congrats on your second grandchild-to-be, Clive. I love those photos – your hair is curlier than mine! Sadly my dad died in 1977 and he never got to see the lovely family I have now – 5 grandchildren at the last count!
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Thank you, Stevie. My hair still goes curly at the ends now, if it gets a bit long. You never lose that, do you! It’s sad that your dad never got to see your family – no doubt he’d have been impressed at all those grandchildren!
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He’d have loved them. Sadly it wasn’t to be, but at least my sons did have one grandfather, Sam’s dad, who lived to be 91.
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It’s good that they at least knew one. My mum’s parents died within a month of each other when I was five, so memories are very hazy. My dad’s parents also passed within a month of each other but I was in my mid-20s so had grown up with them. Grandparents are important to children’s upbringing.
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Yes, the boys had 3, and Sam’s mum is still alive, but very frail now at 91. I managed to hold on to the last grandmother, who died a few months before I got married in 1980.
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Congratulations albeit two years late. I know just how the thought process went from knowing there is to be a grandchild to wondering what we can teach them that they will value as they grow. I adore my grandchildren and think so far they’re living up to my expectations when really I should be living up to theirs and leaving them a decent world to live in.
I love the acoustic version of Teach the Children which I think is pretty much as he’d have written it. The ladies did a pretty good job with it though it’s not for me but the kids version was lovely but I was a little distracted by the fly hat flew into my eye at that moment.
Hugs
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Thank you, David. I share that concern – we aren’t setting a good example, are we.
I doubt he’d have written it with pedal steel in mind either, but I’ve always felt that was the element that gave the record a little bit extra. The kids version is lovely, and I’ve never yet had to watch it with distractions like that!
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I agree, family is everything!! Congratulations n the soon to be new granddaughter. How special. All great tunes.
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Thank you, Darlene, and thanks for the congratulations too – though we don’t know what it is yet. If the parents know, they aren’t letting on! The tunes are a great fit for the theme.
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Boy or girl, the baby will be well-loved and a great companion for your granddaughter. xo
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Indeed! It’s going to be wonderful 😊
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