ABUSED MUSICALLY

Dad on his mandolin.

When I was a child, I remember he was most often on his guitar.

One of my favorite movie quotes is, “I was abused as a child. It was mostly musical in nature.”  

The moment I heard this quote I called my father to share that I too had been abused musically. He laughed and agreed.

 

It began as a child. GJ, Zane and I would lie on our parents’ bed waiting for our turn to be “rocked” by dad in the rocking chair.  We each were given the opportunity to choose two songs. If we were quiet, we got to listen to all six songs as we waited for our turn.

 

We each had our favorite songs. Dad always sang, “You Are My Sunshine” to me. GJ’s song was, “I Love You A Bushel and a Peck.” And Zane loved a really obscure song called, “Give Me That Thing.” The other songs were chosen based on our moods. Usually dad sang, “Come, Come Ye Saints” and “O My Father.”  

The memories of the rocking chair are my earliest memories of music and the wonderful feelings that come with it. But, my “abuse” did not end there. Singing on vacation in the car was another wonderful memory. Dad taught us all kinds of folk tunes. We sang, “There’s a Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road,” “The Wreck of the Old 49,” “The Hunter,” and “Jug Band Music.” Sometimes, Dad would even have the words typed up for us to follow along so we could learn it easier. That really helped when we learned “To Morrow” by Bob Gibson (the Kingston Trio performed it).

 

I love folk music, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Most of my generation like country music or 80s rock. I even have friends who love classic music and new age music. My daughter adores the 70s vibe of Queen, and my other daughter rocks out to One Republic.

 

This past month, Scott and I have been “rocking out” to folk songs. I laugh to songs like, “John Henry,” sung by the Smother’s Brothers. He and I cry over songs like, “The Raven,” by Peter, Paul and Mary.  Buffy St. Marie brings back memories of Dad again with her song, “Cripple Creek.” I just love it all. Why? Well, folk music has a history to it. I can feel it in my bones. It’s timeless. It’s like a captured sunset or a firefly. I grew up singing these songs everywhere — in the car, around the campfire, and at home in our living room. And the concepts are timeless and teach wonderful life lessons. There are many songs about love or heartbreak, but there are an equal number that are fun, light, and happy.

 

I love so many types of music because of my “abusive” childhood. Music is truly incredible. Music touches us each differently, and I hope we are never ashamed of the music we love, no matter what our tastes are. There’s music out there for all of us to enjoy. But, I hope you’ll give folk songs a chance. You never know what you’ll love. 

 

At least that’s the way I remember it.