[joshwayy]

This sort of came out of another thread.

Being a father of two boys (8 & 4), I have a particular affinity for lyrics that relate to parenting. One of my favorites are "Teach your children some fashion sense and let them fashion some of their own"; "Let's raise a glass of milk to the end of another day"...I'm sure there more...

I love how Gord's fatherhood finds it's way into their songs. I'm often amazed at the fact that I am actually a dad...I still feel like a kid in many ways...not young...not old...but a dad nonetheless. A capricious predictability of sorts, with responsibility knocking at my back door.

Anyone else have good parental references?

[Billy]

I think none are more poignant than "Throwing Off Glass", my favorite song off IVL. It's even more so now for me with my 4 month old daughter.

[tragicallymike]

probably the most important is : Dont waaaaaaake Daddy

[Killer Whale Tank]

Hey, good thread. :thumb:

Well, I always thought that 'Willow Logic' was a very sad portrait of a child and an abusive father. That shows the other side of Downie's writing about parenting---the possibility of it going wrong, the power imbalance between parent and child becoming tyrannical and awful.

Another great one is 'Into the Night' on the same record. That's more about the reverse: the helplessness a parent feels as the child begins moving away from them, into their own life. 'A picture of someone growing older, and someone growing up.' Downie, the narrator, comes off as pathetic in his efforts to get his child to pay attention to him, but he's redeemed in the end, when they have a great conversation that restores some of their relationship---maybe on a more equal footing, young adult to adult rather than child to father.

But the best line must be from 'Glass:' 'I know I'm losing you, I know what that means.' Yep. That one resonates with me, because I myself just had a baby girl and one of the things that occured to me is how our children mark our own mortality.

And finally...don't forget 'Put It Off' and its weird parallel between art and human birth.

:mrgreen:

[skippy the wonder dog]

This is where GD's lyrics are at their most mature, IMO. Throwing off Glass, Into the Night, Willow Logic, Trick Rider, Boy Bruised by Butterfly Chase, Emperor Penguin ... all these resonate with me not just because they deal with parenthood but because of their take on it.

We're Hardcore has a humourous take on it.

[grooveless touque]

Into the Night is my favourite Gord parenting song...the whole "I called your name too loud, 'Come back'" is likely kids getting away from him as they grow up...it's so well said.

[Killer Whale Tank]

Gosh, how could I forget 'Trick Rider?' That's a real beauty...maybe Gord's most tender song.