Why I’m Glad I Didn’t Have a Child in the 80s

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I changed Caelyn’s diaper, got her dressed, cut her fingernails, got the dirt out from in between her toes, and pulled her hair into pigtails this morning.

In other words, I provoked a massive breakdown.

Or maybe she was just thrown off by the time change, because when I picked her up and put on the lullaby portion of Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies, she put her head on my shoulder and just about fell asleep . . . before lunch.

We were sitting there in the office chair listening to “Beautiful Girl” and I had to admit — it’s actually a really pretty lullaby. Mainly acapela with sweet, imagistic lyrics:

I’ve got your bottle,
and I’ve got you swaddled
and you’re to loud to ignore.
Your mamma is sleeping,
the angels are keeping,
so cry no more.

Hey, beautiful girl,
Daddy loves you, he loves you,
most beautiful girl
in the whole wide world.

The stars are all shining,
the birds are reclining,
the squirrels are all nestled down,
and the trees in the forest
are joining the chorus
and swaying to the sound.

[chorus]

I know that moons rise
and time flies
and sweet little girls get older,
and then when you do things,
or your heart breaks,
will you still cry on my shoulder?

Hey, beautiful girl,
Daddy loves you, he loves you,
most beautiful girl
in the whole wide world.

I’ve mentioned Andrew Peterson and Randall Goodgame’s kids’ album before, and said that for a children’s album, it’s actually enjoyable. It’s obviously for kids, but it won’t make you want to destroy every music-playing device in your house. The first half is made up of fun tracks about bears not wearing underwear, post office ladies in the snow, babies who won’t burp, and imaginary tigers. The second half serves up lullabies that feature both daddies singing to their children, assuring them that they’ll be right down the hall while they sleep and not to worry, God will be keeping them through the night. Obviously, “Beautiful Girl” fits into the latter half.

(You can listen to a few tracks on Peterson’s website.)

As I was listening, I started thinking about some of my very first albums and whether or not they drove my parents crazy. There was Antshillvania, the story of the prodigal son, ant style. Music Machine and Down by the Creek Bank came to mind too. There were movie soundtracks, like The Little Mermaid (I used to sing “Kiss the Girl” in my sister’s ear when she was sleeping, hoping she’d give up her crush’s name in her sleep) and An American Tail (I so rocked “Somewhere Out There” on the piano).

And then there was Sandi Patti and The Friendship Company. (No, I don’t know why Patti’s with an “i” instead of a “y.”)

I looked high and low for a YouTube or audio file, but came up empty-handed. I can, however, share these lyrics from my memory (though I make no promises of accuracy):

Welcome to the friendship company.
You’re gonna love the friendship company.
Howdy, friend, hey come on in,
to the friendship company.
Now take the hand of someone near you,
turn around and say, “Hello.”
You’re gonna find the friends Jesus,
are everywhere you go.
We have friends of every color,
we have friends in every land,
but when you share the love of Jesus,
every friend can understand.

I guess that one would be a good contrast to the first half of Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies. Need a contrast to the second?

I don’t exactly remember those puppets, but there’s something familiar about them. It could just be that the intro on the video is also on the cassette.

Wanna know a secret? I didn’t even make it through that entire video. So it seems likely that my parents would’ve just barely escaped my childhood with their sanity too, right?

Not so fast. I contend that they, in fact, loved Antshillvania, Down by the Creek Bank, and Music Machine, all of which I had on vinyl. And they adored The Friendship Company!

My case is three-fold:

1) They purchased each one for me and/or my sister.

2) Getting their kids into Christian music was very important to them, particularly to my mom.

and most incriminatingly,

3) The very first musical event I ever attended (some time prior to 1988):

Let me assure you, my parents and their friends were there and it was entirely their idea.

Okay. So that video’s not actually from the concert we attended, but that song’s from the tour good old Sandi was on back then. Some time during the evening, she sang “Friendship Company” and invited all the children on stage. I went up, but only stood on the stairs, out of the spotlight. Afterwards, my parents couldn’t wait to get me in The Friendship Co.

I think I must’ve gotten kicked out a long time ago. But I’m not complaining. I’ll take slugs and bugs to friends any day.

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Filed under Family and Friends, Music, Parenting