We celebrated another happy and eventful Valentine’s Day yesterday. Ariel wrote me a sweet storybook of our story. It is a lively tale, with perfect pictures to accompany the text. I love it. Hammie gave Ariel a single, long-stemmed rose for V-day. He’s in love with her, which is okay, for now. He gave me a card, which I will put in the front of my school binder. We gave Abe a Book of Mormon picture book.
As is the custom, I wrote a song for Ariel (which can be downloaded here in M4a format and here in MP3 format if you’re interested). What began as a lullaby about Ariel for Hammie, became a storybook, and before I knew it, an epic tale.
I’ve thought a lot recently about the archetypal journey: leaving home, gaining light and knowledge during a lengthy journey, and eventually being prepared to return home. It can be seen in everything form Homer’s Odyssey to Disney’s The Lion King. But more importantly, it can be seen in life. That’s what I’ve thought about lately. How we arrive here, leaving our heavenly parents, to receive guidance from earthly parents, who teach us how to return to our heavenly parents. Eventually we bring down others and do the same thing, and they one day they follow suit. An eternal round.
With this song I strove to describe the incredible journey Ariel went through (and billions like her that have lived on the earth), in carrying, giving birth to, and nurturing Abraham. The experience was, and is, sanctifying. I have so enjoyed watching her fill the measure of her creation in the greatest of life’s miracles. I feel like I've watched her transform from a princess to a queen. No words, nor even music, can aptly describe what it feels like to see God’s plan unfurl in your own little life. I love my wife, very much, and my baby too. This song is for Ariel, to Abraham.
These thoughts led me to write this song, straying from the traditional ska-rock motif I’ve used the past three years. The song has only voice, multiple layers of cello tracks, and drums (my first time behind a set!).
And thanks to Ben and The 29th Street Studio for recording yet another song for me. You have a great gift for engineering , mixing, and making a song much better than it would have been if I had been on my own.
3 comments:
Aaawwww... Andrew you're cute.
And that's a funny picture of Abe.
great song! I love the picture too!!
Andrew, that was a really sweet song (in both senses). The journey was hard. But indeed, the joy is great. I really liked the strong gates motif. I was just reflecting yesterday with Keenan about this amazing power we have been given to create life! And great responsibility too, like you say. I feel the need to be so watchful over the little guy. They are precious!
And nice job on the drumset, Andrew. Maybe in a few years Thomas can help you. :)
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