Such a great song- I’m glad it finally found you. I’m just 2 years older than you but I remember hearing it because my BFF had 3 older siblings always playing records. I have to admit I never really analyzed (or frankly even caught) all the lyrics. I appreciate it even more now.
Coincidentally I just watched “The Lost Daughter” recently and the mom at center of the film just couldn’t find the right balance of surrender/self-preservation. She probably should have smoked a few late night doobs with the hubby and spun up a little Love Gun.
I am the oldest in my generation in my family, and I was always a little behind the times in terms of what was hip. My friend who knew the good music moved away after 8th grade and I never recovered. But we find things when we are ready to find them.
I was in middle school when this song came out. That was when my musical awakening began - when I got to choose the music I wanted to listen to. This song is like a sibling to me - always around, sometimes love it and sometimes annoyed by it, but always familiar. I still hear it on the radio a few times a month. I've never thought about it the way you defined it here. You have added a new layer for me to consider regarding parenthood. I try to tell my teenagers about my life before them and it's so funny when they say "You did that!!??" Oh yes, and so much more...
Usually “kids” don’t get curious about their parent’s lives until they are gone, or take an interest in genealogy. My Mom said you don’t want to know that old stuff. Yes, people did crazy stuff in every generation…and it often dies there
My oldest daughter's Roots Humanities teacher did a family tree for my mother's side of the family for us recently. My grandmother moved her 9 children to Chicago in the 1950's from Puerto Rico so there is not much of a paper trail. He went back 4 generations - I'm so grateful and astounded that he did that for us! My father and my grandparents came to the U.S. from Europe after WWII so there is a lot of documentation of their immigration. I was literally shaking when I saw some of the documents and could see the names of all of the people who helped them establish a life here. I am so amazed at the depth of Humanity!
Hmm...I'm not sure I understand what you mean. My father and his family died young (40's - 60's) so all that family history went with them, as Jeri noted. They survived WWII but it was so traumatic that they didn't live very long lives and I feel it was a direct result of that horrendous war and having to leave their homeland and extended family behind. I cannot imagine having to leave all of your history, everything familiar to you behind. Then to start over again in a place where you don't understand the language very well and you are depending on the kindness of strangers. No one speaks of my mother's father and that is why that family tree is so important to me and my cousins. We know nothing about his side of the family - lots of secrets.
Sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive...I was thinking about my own experience. What a gift, to get that family tree. It's amazing to imagine that, leaving the place you've always lived, for generations, for some faraway land. I don't know if I could have done that. It took amazing strength and courage. Thanks for sharing!
You were not insensitive! Thank you for the opportunity to discuss all of this! My background thinking was of "Finding Your Roots" on PBS. They make all these amazing connections and tie them together to tell incredible stories. I'm sure many hours of work goes into each of those presentations.
At 82 the only drumsticks i knew as a kid were attached to chickens.
I have owned cars without Radios, Heaters and A/C. My Honda Fit has 2370000 mies and I've never turned the radio on. My music is the rubber on the road.
However,
Recently i read some cool song lyrics by a dude called Sugarman from his song,
The Sunday columns are always so sublime. You never know what you're going to get, but it's ALWAYS interesting. A lot like "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" in that way.
"Surrender" is one of my favorites. I was 20 in 1978, so I was the audience for it. It was played so much on AM radio that after a few months, you started to get a little sick of it, but it's always stuck with me. Unfortunately, we didn't have the internet then, so lyrics were hard to come by unless they were printed on the album cover, but "Mommy's alright / Daddy's alright / They just seem a little weird / Surrender / Surrender / But don't give yourself away." was always clear. I had no clue at the time how the rest of the lyrics fit in, but the chorus was enough to hook me.
I was meandering around college at the time, and it was either this song, The Who's "Who Are You?", or Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" that was heard up and down the hallways of my dorm. I was most partial to "Rumours" since I wasn't one of the cool kids either! But now, "Surrender," "Who Are You?", any song from "Rumours", or oddly, Steve Martin's first comedy album, brings me right back to 1977-79. As I said: sublime.
Great stuff, as usual. Please accept my apology for being absent and remiss -- mid-February is a tough time in my world
Not at all. I hope things get easier for you!
Such a great song- I’m glad it finally found you. I’m just 2 years older than you but I remember hearing it because my BFF had 3 older siblings always playing records. I have to admit I never really analyzed (or frankly even caught) all the lyrics. I appreciate it even more now.
Coincidentally I just watched “The Lost Daughter” recently and the mom at center of the film just couldn’t find the right balance of surrender/self-preservation. She probably should have smoked a few late night doobs with the hubby and spun up a little Love Gun.
Ha!
I am the oldest in my generation in my family, and I was always a little behind the times in terms of what was hip. My friend who knew the good music moved away after 8th grade and I never recovered. But we find things when we are ready to find them.
Yes, your mom is alright, son.
She is!
I was in middle school when this song came out. That was when my musical awakening began - when I got to choose the music I wanted to listen to. This song is like a sibling to me - always around, sometimes love it and sometimes annoyed by it, but always familiar. I still hear it on the radio a few times a month. I've never thought about it the way you defined it here. You have added a new layer for me to consider regarding parenthood. I try to tell my teenagers about my life before them and it's so funny when they say "You did that!!??" Oh yes, and so much more...
Usually “kids” don’t get curious about their parent’s lives until they are gone, or take an interest in genealogy. My Mom said you don’t want to know that old stuff. Yes, people did crazy stuff in every generation…and it often dies there
My oldest daughter's Roots Humanities teacher did a family tree for my mother's side of the family for us recently. My grandmother moved her 9 children to Chicago in the 1950's from Puerto Rico so there is not much of a paper trail. He went back 4 generations - I'm so grateful and astounded that he did that for us! My father and my grandparents came to the U.S. from Europe after WWII so there is a lot of documentation of their immigration. I was literally shaking when I saw some of the documents and could see the names of all of the people who helped them establish a life here. I am so amazed at the depth of Humanity!
Always a fascinating journey, well, mostly.
Genealogy is weird in that patterns emerge...names and dates randomly occur, and sometimes places, too. At least, that's my experience.
Hmm...I'm not sure I understand what you mean. My father and his family died young (40's - 60's) so all that family history went with them, as Jeri noted. They survived WWII but it was so traumatic that they didn't live very long lives and I feel it was a direct result of that horrendous war and having to leave their homeland and extended family behind. I cannot imagine having to leave all of your history, everything familiar to you behind. Then to start over again in a place where you don't understand the language very well and you are depending on the kindness of strangers. No one speaks of my mother's father and that is why that family tree is so important to me and my cousins. We know nothing about his side of the family - lots of secrets.
Sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive...I was thinking about my own experience. What a gift, to get that family tree. It's amazing to imagine that, leaving the place you've always lived, for generations, for some faraway land. I don't know if I could have done that. It took amazing strength and courage. Thanks for sharing!
You were not insensitive! Thank you for the opportunity to discuss all of this! My background thinking was of "Finding Your Roots" on PBS. They make all these amazing connections and tie them together to tell incredible stories. I'm sure many hours of work goes into each of those presentations.
The silver spoon baby.
Not me.
At 82 the only drumsticks i knew as a kid were attached to chickens.
I have owned cars without Radios, Heaters and A/C. My Honda Fit has 2370000 mies and I've never turned the radio on. My music is the rubber on the road.
However,
Recently i read some cool song lyrics by a dude called Sugarman from his song,
"A Most Disgusting Song."
I've been in that bar.
Singing loud to a song on the radio, especially, that comes on and surprises you, is one of the great small pleasures of life.
Thats 237000 thousand it millions
Cant spell. Its miles.
And it's 237000 thousand.
The Sunday columns are always so sublime. You never know what you're going to get, but it's ALWAYS interesting. A lot like "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" in that way.
"Surrender" is one of my favorites. I was 20 in 1978, so I was the audience for it. It was played so much on AM radio that after a few months, you started to get a little sick of it, but it's always stuck with me. Unfortunately, we didn't have the internet then, so lyrics were hard to come by unless they were printed on the album cover, but "Mommy's alright / Daddy's alright / They just seem a little weird / Surrender / Surrender / But don't give yourself away." was always clear. I had no clue at the time how the rest of the lyrics fit in, but the chorus was enough to hook me.
I was meandering around college at the time, and it was either this song, The Who's "Who Are You?", or Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" that was heard up and down the hallways of my dorm. I was most partial to "Rumours" since I wasn't one of the cool kids either! But now, "Surrender," "Who Are You?", any song from "Rumours", or oddly, Steve Martin's first comedy album, brings me right back to 1977-79. As I said: sublime.
Thanks, Steve. I also never know what it's going to be. I try to mix it up! You are the right age for some really awesome music that's for sure.