It's odd how children's songs often seem to skip a generation.
I don't recall ever hearing this more than a couple of times when I was a kid, and remember thinking (even then) it was irredeemably drippy, but this morning - with the aid of a beautifully (and spookily) illustrated book by Eric Puybaret - Isaac recited/sung the entire story of Puff, The Magic Dragon, near word perfect. He's just turned 4.
His other favourite songs are his own (self-composed) Wacky Bee Song, and - for the car - a short piece by The Deadnotes + The Legend!, which Isaac refers to as his Dinosaur Song.
I just went and revisited the lyrics to the tune and it sounded just as god-damn sad to me now as it did 30 odd years ago. I never could get my head around what that tune/story was trying to tell or warn kids about.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I hope Puff make your boy happy?
The lyric is desperately sad - the inspiration behind the original Toy Story, perhaps? - although in the printed version, they've tried to temper the haunting isolation of the song's finale by hinting someone else is playing with Puff now. But yes, the song makes Isaac very happy. And us.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, for all you meathead wannabe hippies out there, the song has nothing to do with drugs. Ever heard of imagination?
"And no, for all you meathead wannabe hippies out there, the song has nothing to do with drugs. Ever heard of imagination?"
ReplyDeleteI believe the internet term of agreement = VTFU!
Now you need to feed him:
"Two Little Boys"....did Rolf Harris do this first?
"I am an Astronaut" by Kym Wylde's brother Ricky
...I think he's ready...but hold off on The Bobby McGees 'till he hits his teens.
"A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys" is officially the saddest line in literature.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the Wacky Bee song, though. Can we expect a rendition some time?
Try him with I Was Born from one of the Mermaid Avenue albums - sung by Natalie Merchant. Our two older boys (youngest can't talk yet!) love it, and also Jailhouse Rock and Hit Me Baby One More Time - I blame their mother for the latter.
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ReplyDeleteJoanna Nilson at 3:45pm June 21
kids seem to really like nick cave. other popular bands include the pixies and the flaming lips.
Everett True at 4:24pm June 21
my brother swears by Ramones for his kids
Bernard Langham at 5:43pm June 21
beat on the brat?
Jesse Darling at 5:47pm June 21
I made a mix CD for my half-brother and sister, then aged 4 and 6 respectively. There was some Stereo Totale, some Wir Sind Helden, some Bobby McFerrin, some jolly Roberta Flack, some Spike Jones, some Shirelles; all kinds of things. I called it "Music for Jumping". They still listen to it, aged 6 and 8 respectively.