# Need some parent-child references in rock music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465 "2005-05-25T18:42:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/1 "2005-05-25T18:42:27Z")
I’ll be giving a talk soon and I’m looking to use some quotes from rock music about parents and children. I’d consider _Forever Young_, by Bob Dylan, but that is so overused around here that it won’t work. Same for _Teach Your Children_, by Crosby, Stills and Nash. I’m thinking that perhaps Rickie Lee Jones did a song with a name that included “wild horses” in the title. Folk songs, e.g _The Circle Game_, or show tunes, e.g. _Sunrise, Sunset_, might also work. All suggestions will be appreciated and considered. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/2 "2005-05-25T18:45:47Z")
“Father and Son” by Cat Stevens “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin, also recorded by Ugly Kid Joe “When you Dream” by Barenaked Ladies ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/3 "2005-05-25T18:53:31Z")
“The Living Years” and “Silent Running” by Mike and the Mechanics “Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna (not sure if this is quite what you want, but I thought it was worth mentioning) Robin ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/4 "2005-05-25T19:21:51Z")
“St. Judy’s Comet” and “The Mother and Child Reunion,” by Paul Simon ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/5 "2005-05-25T19:25:20Z")
“Carry On Wayward Son,” by Kansas. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/6 "2005-05-25T19:28:48Z")
That Springsteen tune about riding behind the wheel with his Dad, and the mill is closing down etc. “My Home Town”? It’s more about the Rust Belt and all, but there is a mention of the father son thing. Cat Stevens, Harry Chapin-already mentioned. “Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof might work-it certainly lays out role expectations! Do you want more of the tensions inherent in the relationships or the roles? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/7 "2005-05-25T19:30:49Z")
“Mother”, by The Police ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/8 "2005-05-25T19:40:02Z")
“Seasons in the Sun”, Terry Jacks. “Goodbye Michelle my little one… you gave me love and helped me find the sun…” :::sniff:: ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/9 "2005-05-25T20:52:52Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > “Mother”, by The Police Or “Mother” by Danzig. 😛 Or that one from The Wall… Anyway, what exactly are you trying to show with these quotes? There are millions of 'em, so we need to narrow it down a bit. Also, must they be from very well known songs? One of my favorites is from “Slow Turning” by John Hiatt– \*I’m driving in my car, I’ve got the radio on. And I’m yelling at the kids in the back, 'Cause they’re banging like Charlie Watts…" ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/10 "2005-05-25T21:08:45Z")
“Memphis, Tennessee” - Chuck Berry (also covered by George Thorogood). ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/11 "2005-05-25T21:11:58Z")
Paul Simon’s _Mother and Child Reunion_?? Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/12 "2005-05-25T21:29:14Z")
_Graceland_ has at least a couple, including the title song. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/13 "2005-05-25T21:30:56Z")
Springsteen’s “Adam Raised a Cain.” ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/14 "2005-05-25T21:37:13Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > “Memphis, Tennessee” - Chuck Berry (also covered by George Thorogood). Is that the one also covered by Johnny Rivers? “Long distance information get me Memphis, Tennessee. Help me find the party that tried to get in touch with me,”? That one? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/15 "2005-05-25T22:29:44Z")
“Julia” by John Lennon–it’s a song to his mother. The 4 Bitching Babes have a song about “My Father”–about an Irish Dad, drinker, angry, but loved. (can’t remember which Babe it is–but she sang as Patsy Cline in the movie). ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/16 "2005-05-25T23:28:22Z")
There’s Jimmy Rodgers “Child Of Clay” from 1967. It’s a really depressing song. (You didn’t say if you wanted positive or negative lyrics). Here’s the lyrics: [http://lyrical.nl/song/18970](http://lyrical.nl/song/18970) First Verse: Into the darkness he was sent by parents’ Who were ignorant hm, hm Tied down to his mother’s strings Unable to be anything hm, hm Puzzled by the things he hears _His questions fall on their deaf ears_ \<\< Not in lyrics page The father thinking work comes first Ain’t got the time to quench a thirst No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Once he was a child, a beautiful child A child of clay shaped and molded Into what he is today But who is to blame for this child of clay Here’s a link to the actual song in WAV format: [http://www.albertarose.org/Music/country/JimmyRodgers/JimmyRodgersChildOfClay.wav](http://www.albertarose.org/Music/country/JimmyRodgers/JimmyRodgersChildOfClay.wav) Well, it’s probably a song no one recommended to you before. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/17 "2005-05-25T23:36:33Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Anyway, what exactly are you trying to show with these quotes? There are millions of 'em, so we need to narrow it down a bit. It’s still kind of free form. Maybe the best way to explain it at this point is that I’d like an entertaining quote or two or three to break the monotony of some dry statistics and theories. Kind of like I might put up a cartoon via Power Point. For instance: Before I show you the stats on the effect of broken homes on drug usage by teens let me tell you what Eminem had to say, and throw in a few lines from _Cleaning out my closet._ Also I have a few weeks to go so I can read the lyrics over the next few days, then sleep on it/obsess over it for two weeks until I find whatever fits. Thanks for all the ideas so far. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/18 "2005-05-26T00:39:37Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > Anyway, what exactly are you trying to show with these quotes? There are millions of 'em, so we need to narrow it down a bit. He’s right you know. I know you’ve said it’s freeform but the references are so ubiquitous that you probably need to say precisely what aspects your want the quotes for. Otherwise this thread will run for a hundred pages. To give you some idea what I mean I grabbed a random dozen CDs from my collection and based on that sample 3/4 of all albums contain parental references. Granted the selection I grabbed happened to be largely in what might be termed the ‘mellow” section but even so it’s far higher than I would have suspected. The list is as follows. I a grabbed a Harry Chapin compilation CD. Man, Harry produced dozens of ‘em. Aside from “ **Cat’s in the Cradle** ” there’s also “ **WOLD** ” (What did the kids say when they knew it was there long lost Daddy), “ **Tangled Up Puppet** ” (You don’t need to grow up all alone”), “ **Sniper** ” (That same blank stare that she saves for me alone…) and at least 4 others on that album alone. That man had some serious issues with parenthood. Dan Fogelberg: “ **Leader of the Band** ”. The entire song is a dedication to his father Tori Amos: “ **Winter** ” (You must learn to stand up for yourself cause I can’t always be around.) Eric Clapton :“ “ **Tears in Heaven** ””. The entire song is about his son. MeatLoaf: ““ **Objects in the rearview Mirror** ””. (I still believe he’d never let me leave, I had to run away alone.) George Thorogood: ““ **Get a Haircut** ” (My parents taught me what life was about, so i grew up the type they warned me about) Live ““ **Lightning Crashes** ””. (Lightning crashes, a new mother cries, this moment she’s been waiting for. The angel opens her eyes.) I know that’s only a bot over 50% of a 12 CD selection but I haven’t included those already mentioned such as Paul Simon, Cat Stevens etc. I think you really do need to narrow this down. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/19 "2005-05-26T00:40:45Z")
> [@GLWasteful](#): > > Is that the one also covered by Johnny Rivers? > > “Long distance information > get me Memphis, Tennessee. > Help me find the party that tried to > get in touch with me,”? > > That one? Yeah, that’s the one. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/20 "2005-05-26T00:46:40Z")
let it be - the beatles [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465.md?page=2)