Thursday, September 3, 2009

song for my boys

During the last couple of weeks I've been living to the soundtrack of Jars of Clay's latest album, The Long Fall Back to Earth.

It's a magnificant album which is only getting better around the 20th or 30th listening, but I won't attempt a review. Instead, I'll share with you the lyrics to one of the songs which (as usual!) made me cry the first time I heard it.

Boys (Lesson One) is a song from father to son about love, hope, home and the future in the life of a boy. I've been singing it to my boys. Thomas, of course, wants to know all 100 reasons why I love him, and whether there are really a google or infinity reasons - which indeed there are, for each and every one of my children. And yes, however far they run, this will always be their home.

Boys (Lesson One)

Lesson one - do not hide
Lesson two - there are right ways to fight
And if you have questions
We can talk through the night

So you know who you are
And you know what you want
I've been where you're going
And it's not that far
it's too far to walk
But you don't have to run
you'll get there in time

Lesson three - you're not alone
Not since I saw you start breathing on your own
You can leave, you can run, this
will still be your home

So you know who you are
And you know what you want
I've been where you're going
And it's not that far
it's too far to walk
But you don't have to run
you'll get there in time
Get there in time

In time, to wonder where the days have gone
In time, to be old enough to
wish that you were young
When good things are unraveling,
bad things come undone
You weather love and lose your innocence

There will be liars and
thieves who take from you
Not to undermine the consequence
But you are not what you do
And when you need it most
I have a hundred reasons why I love you

If you weather love and lose your innocence
Just remember - lesson one

1 comment:

Janey said...

Great lyrics!

Have you ever heard this one Jean?
Sara's about my favourite song-writer...

http://www.saragroves.com/store/tellmewhatyouknow/lyrics/songformysons/

Lyrics are at the site and posted below:

Song For My Sons
by Sara Groves

this is a song for my sons for when they understand it
you know how life is full you know we couldn't plan it
your dad and i prayed for strength and understanding
for things we couldn't see or comprehend

this is a song from my heart a small refrain to hold you
for times when we're apart and i cannot console you
i can't say your life will always go like it should
but i can say that god is always good

and when the cold wind blows like i know it will
and when you feel alone like i know you will
and when the cold wind blows like i know it will

don't let your love grow
don't let your love grow
don't let your love grow cold

this is a song for my sons for when they understand it
you know how life is full you know we couldn't plan it
your dad and i prayed for strength and understanding
for things we couldn't see or comprehend

this a song for you, to carry in your pocket
take all our love with you in all the paths you walk in
be honest with yourself and don't forget to pray
and read your bible everyday

and when the cold wind blows like i know it will
and when you feel alone like i know you will
and when the cold wind blows like i know it will

chorus 2x

this is a song for my sons for when they understand it
you know how life is full, you know we couldn't plan it
your dad and i pray for your strength and understanding
the things you can not see or comprehend