On Eschatological Urgency

Yesterday, blogging buddy David Kanigan posted Dad’s Favorite Song (29sec)

It reminded me of conversations I have had with my parents, wife and our daughters.  Isn’t it interesting that sometimes we remember events with clarity, while others who were there have no recollection of the event?  Sometimes, it’s the other way around.

Times that were memorable for one participant may have been mundane for the other.

How are we remembered?

I look at my mom and dad, getting on in years and as I try to think what their favorite songs might be, I draw blanks.  I have no idea and barely remember them listening to music at all and when they did, it was Polkas.  Maybe it was their generation? I suppose it will be one of the topics when I call them tomorrow evening.

Me, on the other hand, have surrounded myself with music since grade school. Our daughters have suffered through lots of music from Jethro Tull, Alice Cooper and The Good Rats, to Bach, Buxtehude and Guaraldi. They may not have liked it all, but they’ve been exposed to lots of music and remember.

So last night, I forwarded DK’s post to my girls and added, “This got me thinking. What is dad’s favorite song?”   My sense of eschatological urgency is making itself known.

I have only heard back from one of three, but Elissa picked a song that surprised me.  I do now remember however, wearing out the CD and playing along with it up in my music room, sometimes for hours on end. (If the other two chime in, I will update)

In retrospect, this song maybe should have been on my Smile, It’s 2019 post.

I have the live recording from 2003,  where Ricky Skaggs mentions they were going to play a song for the first time that his friend gave to him the day before.

This was performed seven years later and I  am am humbled that one day, I will be remembered when my daughter hears this song. . .  but no rush.

The lyrics:

I live a simple life
I work all day I sleep all night
A couple kids that need a nap
Big dog and a little cat
Wife that barks but rarely bites
So I live the simple life.

I live a simple life
A good coat when the cold winds bite
Leather boots for my bare feet
Now and then a steak to eat
I pick with the boys on Friday night
So I live a simple life.

Chorus:
My favorite book was wrote about
A man that died to save my soul
And my favorite thing to hear is
Daddy, I’m so glad you home
And my favorite woman is 5-3
With long black hair and green eyes
Still I live a simple life.

— Instrumental —

I live a simple life
Couple of friends I really like
A little house outside of town
An old car that gets me around
Complications may arise
But I live a simple life.

And I live a simple life
Cell phone when my old car dies
The Internet to show me where
GPS to get me there
Everywhere there’s satellites
Oh, I live a simple life.

Chorus:
My favorite book was wrote about
A man that died to save my soul
And my favorite thing to hear is
Daddy, I’m so glad you home
And my favorite woman is 53
With long black hair and green eyes
Still I live a simple life…