TOPIC: The importance of looking forward
A poignant look at graduating
THE STORY
RoAnn commissioned me to do a tremendously inclusive project--a graduation song not only for two of her sons, graduating from Harvard, but for two of her nephews who were graduating as well. My task was daunting: create a message from six different parents to four unique graduates, and find a way to keep it truly meaningful, without getting diffused.
RoAnn commissioned me to do a tremendously inclusive project--a graduation song not only for two of her sons, graduating from Harvard, but for two of her nephews who were graduating as well. My task was daunting: create a message from six different parents to four unique graduates, and find a way to keep it truly meaningful, without getting diffused.
| "Four Boys" - Free Download |
EXPANDING AND DEEPENING
This project started out as one song, but the deeper we got into the process, the more profound the options and forms of expression became. Somewhere along the line we decided to make a slideshow video of family photos to go with it, and I opted to try something I never, ever had before (never a dull moment around here!) I decided, after doing the Song Interviews with the parents, to use the photos to guide me about how to write the lyrics to the song (rather than write the song and bring pictures to it later.) Wow! That was a wild experience. It had never occurred to me before that photos might have songs hiding inside them!
This project started out as one song, but the deeper we got into the process, the more profound the options and forms of expression became. Somewhere along the line we decided to make a slideshow video of family photos to go with it, and I opted to try something I never, ever had before (never a dull moment around here!) I decided, after doing the Song Interviews with the parents, to use the photos to guide me about how to write the lyrics to the song (rather than write the song and bring pictures to it later.) Wow! That was a wild experience. It had never occurred to me before that photos might have songs hiding inside them!
Four Boys
For James, Thomas, Michael and Alexander,
On the Occasion of your College Graduation
With Lots of Love from Your Parents
Once upon a time there were four boys
Once upon a time there were four boys
They made a little trouble, made a lot of noise
But everybody loved those four boys
Everybody loved those four boys
They had their ups, and their downs
They learned to stand up tall and claim their ground
They learned to strike when the iron was hot
They learned to climb the mountain and never stop
Till you reach the top
Once upon a time there were four boys
Heading into battle, mounting up their spoils
Working out their troubles, playing out their joys
And everybody loved those four boys
Everybody loved those four boys
Well, it started out that there were just four boys
Pretty soon there were a lot more boys
They moved all around like one big cloud
Splashing all over and laughing out loud
Thrashing all over and laughing out loud
They had their ups, and their downs
They had their winter whites and summer browns
They had their five-finger discounts lined up straight
They had their golden goose and celebraton dates
They had those strange fashion tastes
Yeah, once upon a time there were four boys
Once upon a time there were four boys
And now there sure are a lot more boys
Maybe even a girl or too, if you look real close like these boys do
And look at them today, those four boys
Going every which way, now, those four boys
The first set of boys to be set loose
Watch ‘em put on…put on their walking shoes (everybody loves those four boys)
Put on those walking shoes (everybody loves those four boys)
Put on those walking shoes (everybody loves those four boys)
‘Cause we love you
© 2010 Anna Huckabee Tull, CustomCraftedSongs.com
THE RESULT
The result was two songs--a fun, nostalgic one ("Four Boys") and a second one ("Not Alone"), from the heart, from parent to child. Only--wow! They really are not children any more. I guess that's what makes it poignant. That, and the fact that I learned, digging deep inside the photos and stories of this inspirational family, that there is a kind of love and bond there that is both totally unique and also engagingly universal. I want to share these songs with you because of how unique this family is. But if the songs end up touching you, it will be because you will recognize the universality and depth of your own love and gratitude, for someone who cheered you on, or for those you now find yourself supporting and "singing forward" in your own unique way. Here's to graduations of all kinds - to pushing yourself to a new level of competence and independence and expression and well-deserved freedom. And, too, here's to parenthood - that strange and beautiful journey of learning you can love deeper than you ever knew - just in time to watch your beloved children fly away, and then wait, breathlessly, for their eventual returns.
The result was two songs--a fun, nostalgic one ("Four Boys") and a second one ("Not Alone"), from the heart, from parent to child. Only--wow! They really are not children any more. I guess that's what makes it poignant. That, and the fact that I learned, digging deep inside the photos and stories of this inspirational family, that there is a kind of love and bond there that is both totally unique and also engagingly universal. I want to share these songs with you because of how unique this family is. But if the songs end up touching you, it will be because you will recognize the universality and depth of your own love and gratitude, for someone who cheered you on, or for those you now find yourself supporting and "singing forward" in your own unique way. Here's to graduations of all kinds - to pushing yourself to a new level of competence and independence and expression and well-deserved freedom. And, too, here's to parenthood - that strange and beautiful journey of learning you can love deeper than you ever knew - just in time to watch your beloved children fly away, and then wait, breathlessly, for their eventual returns.
(On Your Own But) Not Alone
For James, Thomas, Michael and Alexander
From the time you first
Pushed yourself farther
Than you had before
It set the stage for all in store
And what you have, you’ll take forward
As you make your way on your own
But as you go, oh, hold on to
Where you come from
You come from love
You come from ties that hold
Now you’ve begun life on your own
But you will never, ever be
No, not in this family
You will never, ever be alone
So open wide, and take the world head on
We know your heart, and the ways that you are strong
And as you go, oh, hold on to
Where you come from
You come from love
You come from ties that hold
Now you’ve begun life on your own
But you will never, ever be
No, not in this family
You will never, ever be alone
You come from us
You come from days filled with love
So wherever you may go
On life’s long and winding road
Please carry with you what you know
Of home
© 2010 Anna Huckabee Tull, Custom Crafted Songs
| "Not Alone" Free Download |
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