Father's Day

Father is a protector, a provider and a schoolmaster of a thousand different subjects.

He is the one who picks you up when you fall, dusts you off, and then puts you back on your feet and tells you to try again.  An ordinary man, trying to do extraordinary things.

This show is dedicated to all the fathers around the world. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

You're listening to Acoustic Avenue. This is Ted Crouch, your host for the next hour on today's program, a special for fathers around the world, co-produced with Joe Little in Calgary, Alberta. On Acoustic Avenue, we recognize with respect and gratitude that in the shoeswab, the land on which we live, work, and play our music is the unceded traditional territory of the Sequnik people. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Sikh, Kainai, Pekani, the Sutina, the Lyash and Nakoda Nations, the Metin Nation Region III, and all the people who make their homes in the 27 region of southern Alberta. He is a protector, a provider, and a schoolmaster of a thousand different subjects. He's the one who picks you up when you fall, dusts you off, and then puts you back on your feet and tells you to try again. An ordinary man trying to do extraordinary things. He shows us his love and teaches us by example, not just words. He believes we can do anything we want when we grow up and sends us on our way, but yet finds it almost impossible to let go. Today, we're going to offer up a collection of songs about our relationships with our fathers from the perspectives of all three sons, daughters, and fathers, because too often, far too often, in our busy lives of today, we don't realize what we've got until he's gone. In this first set that we call heroes, you will hear the strongest man in the world from a new artist on our radar who goes by the name of John S. P. And we will end the set with Dance with My Father by Luther Van Ross, who wrote this song shortly after he suffered a stroke as a tribute to his late father, and very poignant as it was one of Luther's last songs. To start the show today, here is a song about our heroes. Here is Teresa James and Dad, you're my hero.

SPEAKER_08 3:50

When you hold me and never was afraid, you made me feel my camp. When I was very small, I spent chasing monsters, moving on trips around. The one who's always been there. We are fine to see when you let me find myself. How much too much? So lovely.

SPEAKER_10 6:45

And he can lift an elephant while trembling underneath. But when it came to raising us, you may not have her. No matter what he deserves. So let me just say thank you to the strongest man in the world. He won't ask for nothing, no matter what he deserves.

SPEAKER_07 9:39

Don't you know that my dad is the strongest man in the back when I was a child before life removed all the innocent, my father would lift me high and dance with my mother and me, and then spin me around till I fell asleep. Then up the stairs he would carry me and I knew for sure I was love. If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him. I'd play a song that would never ever end. How I'd love love love to dance with my father again. When I and my mother would disagree to get my way, I would run from her to him. He'd make me laugh just to comfort me. Yeah, yeah. Then finally make me do just what my mama said later that night when I was asleep. He left the dollar under my sheet, never dreamed that he would be gone from me. If I could steal one final glance, one final step, one final dance with him. I'd play a song that would never cause I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again. Sometimes I'd listen outside and I'd hear how my mother cried for him. I pray for her even more than me.

SPEAKER_03 13:00

I pray for her even more than me.

SPEAKER_07 13:21

I know I'm praying for much too much, but could you send back the only man she loves? I know you don't do it usually, but delight she's dying to dance with my father. Every night I fall asleep, and this is all I ever dreamed.

SPEAKER_00 14:25

We call this the second set. Fathers and Sons and Open with a song for dad from Keith Urban, who reflects how much our parents especially our dad genuinely love. Father's given show is what they call daughters of love. In some homes, they are the heads of the family. They may have the final say on most of their decisions, may become too reprimanding sometimes, or even a bit harsh realities in front of you. You might not realize what your dad is doing or telling you, but someday you may come to understand that it is all for your good. Then we play two songs with the same title Father and Son. One is from the 1970 T for the Tillerman album by Cat Stevens. Reflecting on the song fifty years after it was released, the use of claims the song is a testament to the differences we represent to each other, especially in age and traditions. Traditions have a big impact on our lives, and sometimes you've just got to walk away. The other is Gino Vinelli's offering from his 1975 album, Storm Sonic. About this song Gino says after many full years of music, I've come to realize that it is not always love, wisdom, or sound advice from parents or guardians that lead you in life. In my case, my father's missteps and miscalculations have done more to teach me than I can say. Through difficult times, times when I felt it was all over, times when squeezing blood from a stone would have been easier than getting a note out of me, when issues of health built great walls. Through the nagging voice of doubt and the unease of the turning seasons, all I had to do was reflect upon my father's unspoken warning. Don't you dare quit. This is Keith Urban and Kat Stevens, Yusuf Islam, and Gino Vanelli.

SPEAKER_09 16:53

Lately I've been noticing I say the same things he used to say. And I even find myself acting the very same way. I tap my fingers on the table to the rhythm in my soul. And I jangle the car keys when I'm ready to go. When I look in the mirror, he's right there in my eyes, staring back at me. And I realize the older I get, the more I can see. How much do you love my mother? I don't want to leave. Now I don't think he was making me become the man in you that I'm not sure. And now only hope when I have my own family. Oh I hope I see how perfect.

SPEAKER_07 20:52

Take it easy. You're still young, that's your fault. There's so much you have to know. Find a girl, settle down. If you want, you can re look at me. I am old, but I'm happy. To be calm when you found something going on. But take your time, think a lot. Why think of everything you've got, or you will still be here tomorrow, but your doings may not. How can I try to explain? When I do, he turns away again. It's always been the same. That's not time to make a change. Just sit down. Take it slowly. You're still young. That's your fault. That's so much you have to go through. Find the girl. Step it down. If you want you to matter when you look at me. I am old, but I'm happy.

SPEAKER_11 25:39

It took me so long to recover from the pain of having denied the love I once relied upon. It takes more than time to discover from both the young and all. The truth is sometimes cold. But right. This is my life. And I've got to hold my own.

SPEAKER_00 26:48

And the wrongs become right when we stop to the second half of Acoustic Avenue with your holy head crouch, featuring a special co-production with Joe Little forefathers around the world. This next set we call Fathers and Daughters, and opens with a British country music duo with Shires and a song called Daddy's Little Girl. This is from their 2016 album My Universe, and was written by Chrissy Rhodes, a heart-rending ballad about her father, who passed away when she was a child of eight years old. We follow that with John Mayer and Daughters, a song that lyrically is an admonition to fathers to nurture their daughters in their childhood because the relationships will affect their future relationships with men as adults. This song went on to garner numerous awards, including a Grammy for Song of the Year. Next up will be Michael Booblay singing Daddy's Little Girl from his 2002 album The Dream. The song was originally written in 1949 by Robert Harrison Berg and Horace Garlock. And we end the set with the greatest man I never knew, sung by Reba McIntyre. Lyricist Richard Lay described the song as being about his own father, and that several other of his hit songs were also from his own life, such as I'll Get Over You and Don't It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue. Here are the Shires, John Mayer, Michael Boublet, and Reba McIntyre.

SPEAKER_08 29:10

Smell of old spice, a flag up on the dash, windows wrote down in the wind, while I sply past Singing along with the radio. Hanging on to that steering wheel was the man who hung the moon. Used to wrap my hands around his little finger. Turns out he was wrapped around mine. He said you can be anything you want to in this great big world. But I'm always gonna be Daddy's little girl. He gave me advice. No, I hate to admit it, but that man was always right. Used to wrap my head around this little thing. But I'm always gonna be Daddy's little girl. When I count my blessings, I know where to stop. He might not hold my hand no more, but it always always holds my heart. He used to wrap my hands around his little finger. Turns out he was wrapped around mine. He said you can be anything you want to in this great big world. But I'm always gonna be Yes, I'm always gonna be Daddy's little girl.

SPEAKER_05 32:36

She puts the cow inside of my world. She's just like a maze, where all of the walls are continually changed. To stand on the steps with my heart and my head Now starting to see Babies got nothing to do with me. Father's bigger to your daughters. Lieutenant to my best. To my lens, bigger to your daughters You see that skin, it's the same she's been standing in Since the day she saw him walking. Oh now she's left cleaning up the messy man. So father's bigger to ya swell like it. So speaker to your daughters too. So speaker to your daughters too. Some mother speaker to your daughters too.

SPEAKER_01 36:08

You're the end of a rainbow, a pot of gold. Your daddy's little girl to have an hold. Is what you are. Your money's right and shining star. You're the spirit of Christmas. The star on the tree. You're the easter money for money. Your sugar, your spice, your thing, and your daddy little rainbow. Your daddy's little girl to have a precious gem is what you are. Your mommy's bright and shining star. You're the spirit of Christmas, the star on the trees, you're the Easter bunnies for mommy, your sugar, your spice, your everything nice, and your daddy's little girl. For mammy, your sugar, your spice, your everything and your daddies, the greatest man I never knew Lived just down the hall, and every day we said hello, but never touched an eye.

SPEAKER_04 40:47

How was I to know? He thought how the greatest man I never knew came home late every night. He never had too much to say. But there was business left to do. He never said he loved me.

SPEAKER_00 42:58

This brings us to the final set for today's program on Acoustic Avenue. Thank you to the songwriters and musicians who wrote the lyrics and composed the music. And I hope you enjoyed the love and ultimate joy they share when recording their music for you to listen to. We call this set Sons and Daughters, and start things off with Between Fathers and Sons by Wayland Jennings from his 1987 album Hangin' Tough. Following that is Fathers and Daughters, composed and performed by Michael Bolton, and co-written by Evan Kidd Bogart and Emmanuel for the original movie soundtrack. And we end today's show with My Father's Eyes by Eric Clappedon. A song inspired by the fact that Clappedon never met his father, Canadian Edward Fryer, who died of leukemia in nineteen eighty five. Describing how he wishes he knew his father. The song also refers to his own son Connor, who died. In 1991 at 84. Clapton says, I tried to describe the parallel between looking in the eyes of my son and the eyes of my father that I never met through the chain of our blood. This is Waylon Jennings, Michael Bolton, and Eric Clapton.

SPEAKER_02 44:36

Things he said I had to know. Don't make my mistakes, there are rules you can't break, but I had to find out on my own. Now when I look at my own son, I know what my father went through. There's only so much you can do. You're proud when they walk, scared when they run. That's how it always has been. Between fathers and sons. Things you can't change, no matter how much you care. So you do all you can, but then you gotta let it go. You're just part of the flow of a river that runs between fathers and sons. Your mother will try to protect you, hold you as long as she can, but the higher you climb, the more you can see. That's something that I understand. One day you'll look at your own son. There'll be so much that you want to say, but he'll have to find his own way. On the road he must take, the course he must run. That's how it always has been. Between fathers and sons, it's a bridge you can't cross, it's a cross you can't bear. Things you can't change, no matter how much you care. So you do all you can, but then you gotta let it go. You're just part of the flow of the river that runs between fathers and sons, make you every wish come true.

SPEAKER_06 48:06

Every dream for all your life. I know one day you'll understand when times of heart. I know you'll be strong. I'll be there in your heart, and you will carry like moonlight on the water, it's sunlight in the sky, fathers and daughters, never say goodbye. The angel I went to sleep gave me one dream of my life. So learn to love and spread your wings and find the way to call your home when turn to heart and know you be strong. I'll be there in your heart, and you will carry like moonlight on the water, and sunlight in the sky, fathers and daughters, for the sake of God. I'll be there in your heart, and you will carry off like a light on the water, sunlight in the sky, fathers and daughters, never say goodbye. Fathers and daughters never say goodbye.

SPEAKER_07 52:04

To restore my soul again, just a foreign on the room. How did I get here? What have I done? When will all my hopes over? How will I know it? When I look in my father's eyes, my father's eyes When I look in my father's eyes, my father's eyes in the light begins to shine. I hear those angels love a fine. And as I watch this evening go, feel my heart start to overflow. Where do I find the words to say? How do I teach him? What do we play? Bit by bit. I realize that's when I need them. That's when I need my father. Clouds of tea. I'm like a bridge that was washed away. My foundations were made of clay. I'm not so dying. How could I lose it? What did I try? I realized that he was dealing.

SPEAKER_00 56:33

This is Ted Crow signing off and on behalf of Joe Little from Our Hearts to Yours. Stay safe.