Song of the Fortnight -- October 1, 2007 -- Father to Son

[paddyinthepub]

Right on time......this was going to start Sept. 10 according to the new schedule for Song of the Fortnight -- time surely flies when you're having fun and even when you're not. I'm often reminded of Harry Chapin's song "Cat's in the Cradle" when my son asks me to have a catch at the very moment sports or exercise or his need to play ball ain't exactly at the top of my long list of things to do....I suspect I have alot to learn, still. I often find so much wisdom in the words and music of singer songwriters like Harry Chapin, Ellis Paul, and countless others.

So it's welcome back to the current: Song of The Fortnight.

Father to Son

When I have my children
A father to my son
A builder of his confidence
Each brick for what he’s done

I will build the highest tower
To the highest, whitest cloud
And put my son upon it
And watch him sitting proudly

It will be my finest hour
The best thing I begun
In my confidence this tower
Has built a man that is my son

Take what you can get
Don’t run from it
These are your father’s eyes
And beware of the mimicking mirror
With widened prisoning eyes

It watches your every subtle step
Every fall and every rise
So know the power of a fist
A promise and a lie
Hardest thing begun
Be father to your son

Copyright Ellis Paul Publishing

[KarenZ]

Thanks Paddy. This was due to start last Monday - Sept. 24 - but since there seems to be so little interest, I did not make an effort to post it.

I've revised the schedule again. It can be viewed HERE.

KarenZ

[paddyinthepub]

Thanks Karen, your efforts all over this board are impressive to say the least, and I just want you to know that it does not go unnoticed, although I suppose there are times when one can't help but feel that some threads on the forum are taking a good while to get going. Given the nature of this one, discussing one of Ellis' earliest records, I'm thinking that not that many readers of the forum have this CD or Cassette and for that reason have little to say about the songs we're discussing. Here's hoping this discussion resumes and continues.

[KarenZ]

Thanks Paddy. I'll jump in when I can.

KarenZ

[wendy]

Thanks Karen, your efforts all over this board are impressive to say the least, and I just want you to know that it does not go unnoticed

Let me jump in here and second that, Paddy
My apologies for "lurking" these past few months. My brain just doesn't seem to be able to keep track of everything these days, or at least not well enough to contribute here very often or constructively. I'm still reading everything frequently, though!


Now on to my short comments on EP's Father and Son:
I like this father/son song rather better that Harry Chapin's, at least partly because it's no where near as depressing. It's a close run with Cat Stevens'...
I also think it's a tad poignant that Ellis has had daughters to date (though suspect that the same feelings apply)

[JennyLevE]

I was thinking the same thing about the daughters -- it is at least slightly ironic.
Anyway -- more soon -- I am fast approaching midterms and life is getting a little crazy!
--Jen