# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/21 "2005-05-26T01:29:09Z")
“Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd or there is also an acoustic version by Shinedown. ---
**Author:** ![Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ass\_For\_A\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ass_For_A_Hat)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/22 "2005-05-26T02:00:16Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > All suggestions will be appreciated and considered. With that in mind…Kill Your Sons by Lou Reed. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/23 "2005-05-26T02:21:13Z")
_I Hope You Dance_, Lee Ann Womack. A crossover tune but powerful lyrics. ---
**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 26, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/24 "2005-05-26T15:45:32Z")
A Boy named Sue ---
**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 26, 2005, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/25 "2005-05-26T16:08:45Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > I think you really do need to narrow this down. Excellent point. I wish I had your memory and your CD collection. Thanks again to all who have contributed so far. I had a great time reading lyrics online last night. Having slept on it, I think I now need something positive from the parent’s point of view: how great it is to be a parent, etc. I’ve got the other angles covered, with help from the above. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/26 "2005-05-26T16:10:49Z")
_Mother Mother_ by Tracy Bonham. It’s subject to interpretation but I’ve always thought it was a child out on her own for the first time. She’s telling her mom that she’s fine but she knows her mom isn’t believing it through worry. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/27 "2005-05-26T16:15:26Z")
Whooooooooo[sup]ooooooo[/sup]oooooh, Sweeet child of miiiiii[sup]iiine![/sup] [sup]Whoooo[/sup]oooooo oh [sub]oh[/sub] Sweet child of miiiiiiiii[sub]iiine[/sub] –Guns N’ Roses On a nicer note, Child of Mine by Carole King ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/28 "2005-05-26T17:13:55Z")
You want old stuff, I’m all over that. I’ve got some examples from the 70s but I’m guessing you want something more contemporary. “Just The Two of Us” by Will Smith? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/29 "2005-05-26T17:15:55Z")
Yakity Yak (Don’t Talk Back) Does Your Mother Know?–ABBA ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/30 "2005-05-26T17:25:43Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > Having slept on it, I think I now need something positive from the parent’s point of view: how great it is to be a parent, etc. I’ve got the other angles covered, with help from the above. How about something from Rosemary Clooney’s album, _[Mothers and Daughters](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000006QU/ref=pd_sxp_f/103-8852047-7834261?v=glance&s=music)_? There’s _[Thank Heaven For Little Girls](http://www.geocities.com/merrystar3/allysongs/ThankHeavenForLittleGirls.htm)_, _[A Child is Only a Moment](http://www.rosemaryclooney.com/LyricPages/achildisonlyamoment.html)_, _[Look to the Rainbow](http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/finiansrainbow/looktotherainbow.htm)_, amongst others. Or for something a little more contemporary, how about Bread’s _[Daugther](http://www.lyricsdownload.com/bread-daughter-lyrics.html)_, or Paul Simon’s _[Father and Daughter](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/paul-simon/father-and-daughter.html)_. Then there’s Creed’s _[With Arms Wide Open](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/creed/witharmswideopen.html)_, John Lennon’s _[Beautiful Boy](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/lennon-john/82425.html)_, Phil Collins’ _[Father to Son](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/phil-collins/107976.html)_, or Queen’s _[Father to Son](http://queen-lyrics.wonderlyrics.com/Father-To-Son.html)_, too. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/31 "2005-05-26T17:31:35Z")
“Mama” by Genesis. About a boy’s love for his mother. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/32 "2005-05-26T17:32:48Z")
Ben Folds, “Still Fighting It.” “Good morning, son…in twenty years from now, maybe we’ll both sit down and have a few beers. And I can tell you about today, and how I picked you up, and everything changed.” Live, “Heaven.” “I don’t need no one to tell me about Heaven…I look at my daughter, and I believe.” ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/33 "2005-05-26T19:32:34Z")
I don’t know what the purpose is, but this is a great thread! “Our House” by ? (in the middle of the street)–'80’s artist Cindy Lauper-“girls just want to have fun”. Paul McCartney–“Bend Little Willow” on his Flaming Pie CD. Tribute to a child who died. Beautiful. (sorry, they all seem to be sad–poignant). Can’t think of any right now, but know there are more. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/34 "2005-05-26T19:33:40Z")
> [@DeVena](#): > > Paul Simon’s _Mother and Child Reunion_?? > > Probably not. Yeah. Maybe someday someone will give a talk about menus in Chinese restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/35 "2005-05-26T20:41:17Z")
From Jefferson Starship’s 1970 **Blows Against the Empire** Lp: “the Baby Tree” and “A Child Is Coming.” Both were written while Grace Slick was pregnant (with Paul Kantner’s baby) . A year later, Slick recorderd “China” (on the “Sunfigher” Lp) about the daughter she eventually had (“China” is the daughter’s name). ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/36 "2005-05-26T20:45:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe someday someone will give a talk about menus in Chinese restaurants. Is that what that song is about? Really? I’ve never known. Seriously. But now I have it stuck in my head, so that’s nice. “St. Judy’s Comet” still stands, though. _'Cause if I can’t sing my boy to sleep Well it makes your famous daddy look so dumb_ ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/37 "2005-05-26T20:46:20Z")
**Wilco** - “My Darling” and “Dreamer In My Dreams” ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/38 "2005-05-26T21:33:09Z")
Well, it’s more folk than rock, and just a few lyrics rather than the whole song, but Arlo Guthrie’s **City of New Orleans** has these lines: “Sons of Pullman porters, and sons of engineers, Ride their father’s magic carpets made of steel, Mothers with their babes asleep, rockin’ to the gentle beat, The rhythm of the rails is all they feel.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Unkempt\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Unkempt\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Unkempt_One)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/39 "2005-05-26T22:27:38Z")
**Eric Clapton** - Circus Left Town _Little man with his heart so pure And his love so fine Stick with me and I’ll ride with you Till the end of the line Hold my hand and I’ll walk with you Through the darkest night When I smile I’ll be thinking of you And everything will be alright_ and My Father’s Eyes \* As my soul slides down to die. How could I lose him? What did I try? Bit by bit, I’ve realized That he was here with me; I looked into my father’s eyes. My father’s eyes. I looked into my father’s eyes. My father’s eyes. \* ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465/40 "2005-05-27T04:45:51Z")
**Mexican Home** by _John Prine_ **Was I Right or Wrong?** - _Lynyrd Skynyrd_ **Van Lear Rose** - _Loretta Lynn_ **Little Red Shoes** - _Loretta Lynn_ **Story of my Life** - _Loretta Lynn_ **Mama** - _Genesis_ **Bohemian Rhapsody** - _Queen_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-parent-child-references-in-rock-music/305465.md?page=3)