Push Play Cafe
Push Play Cafe lays down the tracks of our lives - an eclectic program celebrating global roots, rock, blues, soul, acoustic, and folk-inspired music, highlighting both emerging and established songwriters from the last century. With a warm, story-driven tone and a curated soundscape, it’s been described as “music from the roots up”.
Push Play Cafe
The COVID Collection - Part 7 of 8
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Sleepsongs 3 is the seventh episode in the 8 part series called COVID Kids and Companions where we celebrate a few of the positive things that came out of COVID as we serve up a virtual cornucopia of creature companions.
You're listening to a special series on Acoustic Avenue. This is Ted Crouch, and I'll be your host for the next hour on today's program that has been co-produced with Joe Little in Calgary, Alberta. On Acoustic Avenue, we recognize with respect and gratitude that in the shoe swap, 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, Sigsiga, Kainai, the Pekini, the Sutina, the Lyaj Nakota Nations, the Metis Nation, Region 3, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. Welcome to Acoustic Avenue, as we continue with the seventh episode in our special series of eight shows celebrating some of the positive things that resulted from the COVID pandemic that we call COVID Kids and Companions. So far, we have presented two cycles of shows on kids, dogs, and cats. And today we are going to return once again to the songs sung to the children as lullabies. When we were putting this series together, Joe told me that he was going to conduct a little research poll of the new parents in his neighborhood to find out what songs they sang as lullabies. As he conducted his poll, he realized that he was going to be able to ask not only the parents, but the grandparents and in a couple of cases the great-grandparents as well. The results both pleased and surprised him. As he expected, some songs that had been sung to the great-grandparents as infants had been passed down from generation to generation to generation. But what surprised him was that it went the other way as well. From the new parents up to the generational ladder. Parents were singing God Only Knows, the Beach Boys classic, and great-grandparents were singing The Colors of the Wind from the film Pocahontas. This musical two-way generational highway explains why some lullabies are hundreds of years old and will probably guarantee that these songs and all the hopes, dreams, and wishes that they convey will last in our hearts and minds forever. Maybe this is because all parents of any age hope for a better world for their children than they had, and that their child will grow up to be a better person than they are. So join us as we return one more time to the land of Luleley and the love songs we call lullabies. In this first set, you will hear Barbara Lewis, who had a moderate hit with her original puppy love, before her million-cellar Baby I'm yours. We've got that cued up to play for you today. You will also hear Tori Kelly singing Colors of the Wind, a song written with lyrics about animism and respecting nature and finding its rooted in indigenous Native American culture and perspectives which have later been adopted in both transcendentalist literature and new age spirituality. We start today's show with a loginosong based on the second collection of children's stories about Winnie the Pooh and the rest of the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood. Created by English author A.A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepherd.
SPEAKER_07Here is the house on Pooh Corner Christopher Robin and I walk along under branches lit up by the moon Posing our questions to Owl and the old is our days disappeared all too soon But I've wandered much further today than I should And I can't seem to find my way back to the wood So help me if you can I've got to get back to the house and who called by one You'd be surprised there's so much to be done Count all the bees in the hive Chase all the clouds from the skies back to the days of Christopher Mobbing and Pooh Wendy the Pooh doesn't know what to do, got a honey jar stuck on his nose. He came to me asking help and advice, and from here no one knows where he goes. So I sent him to ask the outer feels there. I've loosened a jar from the float to a bear. So help me if you can I've got to get back to the house that you've gone by one. You'd be surprised there's so much to be done. Count all the bees in the hut. Chase all the clouds from the sky back to the edge of Christopher Robin and who la. So help me if you can. I've got to get back to the house if we call by one. You'd be surprised, there's so much to be done. Count all the bees and nine Chase all the clouds from the sky back to it, Mr. Fur Robin. Back to the witch, Mr. Robin. Back to the wizard.
SPEAKER_12And I'll be on to the stars of the sky.
SPEAKER_11The earth is just a dead thing you can claim. But I don't know every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name. You think the only people who are people are the people who look and think like you. But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew you never knew. Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corner? Or ask the grinning bobcat why he grin. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain? Can you paint with all the colors of the wind? Can you paint with all the colors of the wind? Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest. Come taste the sun, sweet berries of the earth. Come roll in all the riches all around you. And for once, never wonder what they're worth. Rainstorm in the river of my brother. The hair and the otter of my friend. And we are all connected to each other. In a circle, in a hoop that never ends. Have you ever heard a wolf cry to the blue cordboard? Or let me go tell you where he's been. How does the sickamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know the breath of the blue corn. Oh, well, the way a wide arc again. We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain. We need to paint with all the colors of wind. You can own the earth and still all your own is earth and still. You can paint with all the colors of the way.
SPEAKER_00The second set continues with three more selections from our musical collection. Sam Harris is a multimillion-selling recording artist with nine studio albums to his credit. He got as starred as the grand champion singer of Star Surge in its premier season in 1983. He gained acclaim and became best known for his winning rendition of the song Over the Rainbow. Today we will hear somewhere out there from an American tale from his 2014 album Hades of Memory. Anne Murray will sing Danny's song written by Danny Logan and recorded on her seventh studio album. Logan and the romantic ballad for his older brother Danny Logan to mark the birth of Danny's first son, Colin. Most of the lyrics came from a letter Kenny received from Danny, who was planning to marry Colin's mother, and was in the middle of moving his family to California. Murray expressed her love for the original version, saying that the song took on a deeper meaning after giving birth to her first child. And whenever she was singing Danny's song, it was very meaningful. Celine Dion will start things off with my precious one from the ninth studio album she released called A Miracle in 2004. Here is Celine Dion, Sam Harris, and Anne Murray.
SPEAKER_12My precious one, my tiny one, lay down your pretty head My dearest one, my sleepy one it's time to go to bed My precious one, my darling one Don't let your lashes weep my cherished one, my weary one it's time to go to sleep Just by your head and give your kiss to me just close your eyes and find to the sweet stream 'cause in my loving eyes your safety will ever be so hush my dear and sweet and in your dreams your ride on nature's waves dance with the stars and touch the face of God And if you should I precious one my tiny one I'll kiss your little cheek and London the smiling moon I'll say you button thinking I'm loving me tonight somewhere out there someone say a prayer that we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there and even though I know how very far apart we are it helps to think we might be wishing on that same bright star and when the night wind starts to sing its awesome lullaby It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky love can see us through
SPEAKER_04Somewhere out there.
SPEAKER_12Dreams come true.
SPEAKER_04And when the night when it starts to sing, it's lonesome. It helps to think who's sleeping on the leaves sleeping.
SPEAKER_03And we've just begun. I think I'm gonna have a son. He will be like him and me, as free as a dove. Conceived in love, the sun is gonna shine above.
SPEAKER_02And even though we ain't got money, I'm so in love with you, honey. Everything will bring a chain of love. And in the morning when I rise, bring a tear of joy to my eyes, and tell me everything is gonna be alright.
SPEAKER_03Love a guy who holds the work in a paper cup. Drink it up. Love him and he'll bring you love. And if you find he helps, you might better take him home. Yeah, don't you live alone? Try to bring what lovers on.
SPEAKER_02And even though it ain't happening, I'm so in love with your honey. And in the morning when I arise, bring a tear of joy to my eyes and tell me everything's gonna be alright. And even though we ain't got a bunny, I'm so in love with your honey change. And in the morning with our last Ringy was joy to the house.
SPEAKER_00COVID Companions. This is a leap song. This is a special co-production with Joe Littless. The previous set featured Celine Dion, Sam Harris, and Anne Murray. This set begins with a song for everyone. It is one of the greatest romantic songs of history. Sung by the king of rock and roll. He sings about his feelings toward the girl for whom he is falling in love with uncontrollable movie Blue and Hell Falling in Love. Can you feel the love tonight? Written by Elton John and Rice for the 1994 Disney film. The song ended up winning an honor. They will be followed by Sandra Boyne featuring Alison Crow singing End of a Summer Storm. We will end this with Rita Marino's live recording of the Summer from the adaptation of the 1957 musical side of the story. The song explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jazz and the Sharks. The sound team for this 2021 soundtrack faced vast challenges in creating the music, as they had to not only make the transitions between dialogue and song sound uniform, but also had to account for numerous musical numbers, large and small. It was Rita Marino's emotional take on Somewhere that proved to be the biggest high wire act for the sound team, and we have that recording for you today. Here is Alvis Presley, Pentatonics, Alison Krauss, and Rita Marino.
SPEAKER_08There's a calm surrender to the rush of day when the key of a rolling wave can be turned away and chant it more. And it sees me through, and it's enough for this process for the way we're going to do it.
SPEAKER_12Maybe it rains, and maybe you stay here inside, here with me. As we wait for a summer Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Beautiful patterns on woodplain. Fast and free than it's quiet again. At the end of a summer, you and I share a love of weather. Now you are beside me, and we watch together, bright and brave, safe. At the end of the summer. Beautiful patterns on the moon day. Fast and free, and it's quiet again. A place for us. Peace and quiet and open air. Wait for us somewhere. Someday the time for us. Time together with time to spare. Time to learn. Time to care. Someday. We'll find a way of forgiving. So place for us a time and place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there. Hold my hand and I'll take you there soft.
SPEAKER_00That was Elvis Presley, Pentatonics, Allison Krause, and Rita Marino. 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 the ultimate joy they share through their music. And a very special thank you to Joe Little for co-producing this series in COVID Kids and Companions. To take us home today, we'll start the set with Matilda Mann, a British indie folk musician from London. Written by Brian Wilson. What is something you like your audience to take away from your music? Everyone thought about other people and minds. They have reasons for everything. Originally written by the world. The song is about a father not having enough time to spend with his son and the son growing up to be just like his father. Here is Matilda Man, the Carpenters, and Harry Chapin.
SPEAKER_10You'll never leave it out. I'll make you so sure about it. God only knows what I'd be without you. God only knows what I'd be without you if you should ever leave me. The world show nothing to me. So I could worth nothing to me. God only knows what I'd be without you. I may not always love you. I'll make you so shortly. I don't know what I do without you. I don't know what I be without you. God only knows what I be without you. God only knows what I be without you.
SPEAKER_12They have no child.
SPEAKER_05He came to the world in the usual way. But there were planes to catch and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away. And he was talking for I knew it.
SPEAKER_06And as he grew, he'd say, I'm gonna be like you, Dad. You know I'm gonna be like you. And the cats in the cradle and the suit was Little Boy and the man. When you're coming home, Dad I don't know when, but we'll get together then. You know we'll have a good time then. My son turned in just the other day. He said, Thanks for the ball at the moment. Let's play. Can you do it in the throw? I said that not today. I got a lot to do. He said that's okay and that he walked away, but his smile never different. I'm gonna be like you. Yeah, you know I'm gonna be like you. And the cat's all I am a pool. When you comin' home that I don't know when you'll get to get the band, you know it'll have a good time. Well, I came from college just the other day. So much like a man, I just had stays on the round of you and it stood for a while. He shook his head and it said with a smile. What I'm feeling like that is the power of the party. See you leaving and the apple And the boomer, you put the end up. I've long since the time my son's moved away. Call him up just the other day. I said I'd like to see you if you don't mind. You said I'd love to dad if I can find the time. You see my new jobs I hassle and the kids of the flu. But it's your nice talking to you, dad. It's mature nice talking to you. And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me. He'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me. When you're coming home, I don't know when, but we'll get together then. Or gonna have a good time there.
SPEAKER_00Thank you for listening to Acoustic Avenue. This is Ted Crouch signing off, and on behalf of Joe Little, from our heart to yours, stay safe and love the ones you're with. Peace.