12-29-18
I understand that my animal companions are not my children… I do… and yet, they are my furry children. Of course, they will not reflect the same cognitive and emotional development that human child may exhibit, however, their growing personalities are extremely apparent, and they are captivating.
I, as most pet owners do, find myself anthropomorphizing my animals. They have their own voices, their own catchphrases, theme songs, the whole kit-and-kaboodle. I find myself in these moments when I’m animating my exchanges with them, wondering what it would be like with an actual child. I know I am a person that would be a fairly successful parent, and yet I continue to enjoy and look forward to my current condition.
When looking at this song, the lyrics are intentionally old-fashioned. It’s not referencing any specific period in human development but rather acts as a representation of hope and optimism. It alludes to all the pilgrims and pioneers through many different time periods, and the hopes they held for their children as they forge a new future. The concept of fleeing some worsened state for new land and a better life. The last several choruses of the song are sung as a round to further emphasize this point. As the song of one set of pilgrims progresses and fades away, a new song from a new set comes in and renews the hope.
With all this being said, I listen to The Decemberists Sons and Daughters, and I always think about the new generations of kids quickly coming up. I don’t know at what point exactly I stopped being one of those “kids” coming up quickly and became the adult that began saying “2004 was how long ago,” but I am… it’s the circle of life.
My work is diverse, and it has had me working with kids of all ages—this is where I have seen some of my greatest impacts, and where I intend to continue placing focus. I can only hold hope to continue striving for a better future and continue holding hope that the generations that follow will take charge in their own time as well.
Lyrics:
When we arrive, sons and daughters
We’ll make our homes on the water
We’ll build our walls aluminum
We’ll fill our lives with cinnamon now
These currents pull us across the border
Steady your boats, arms to shoulder
Till tides all pull our hull aground
Making this cold harbor now home
Take up your arm
Sons and daughters
We will arise from the bunkers
By land, by sea, by dirigible
We’ll leave our tracks untraceable now
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We’ll make our lives on the water (we’ll make our lives on the water)
We’ll build our walls aluminum
We’ll fill our mouths cinnamon
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We’ll make our homes on the water (we’ll make our homes on the water)
We’ll build our walls aluminum (we’ll build our walls aluminum
We’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We’ll make our homes on the water (we’ll make our homes on the water)
We’ll build our walls aluminum (we’ll build our walls aluminum)
We’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
When we arrive, sons and daughters (when we arrive, sons and daughters)
We’ll make our homes on the water (we’ll make our homes on the water)
We’ll build our walls aluminum (we’ll build our walls aluminum)
We’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon (we’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
(We’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon)
We’ll build our walls aluminum, now
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs, they fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs, they fade away
Here all the bombs, they fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away
Here all the bombs fade away