I used to think that one could only be “beamed” up to another place and time using a Star Trek transporter but I was wrong. Music has the ability to do that too. And I’m not talking about nostalgia or even memories – I’m talking about being moved to another dimension – in this case, my past.
The other day, while listening to Radio Canada in French (RDI), I happened to hear a song that instantly transported me back to my childhood. The song that did it? An old Gospel spiritual – “Dem Bones”, also known as “Dry Bones.” As I sang along, building Ezekiel’s skeleton one bone at a time I was suddenly nine years old again. I could see Mom sitting on the couch surrounded by four children (the other three wouldn’t arrive for a few more years). She was singing to us. Dem Bones.
All Together Now..
My mother sang to us every night − either as a form of entertainment or as a way to get us to fall asleep − from her own version of The Great American Songbook.
These songs fill my head from time to time, a melody here, a familiar strain there, and I’m not talking nursery rhymes or “Wheels on the Bus.” No, Mom gave us rousing renditions of the songs that meant something to her, and each one of them came with a story.
“Que Sera, Sera” (Whatever Will Be, Will be)
“Mom, Mom?” we’d ask. What are we going to be? And she’d reel off a list of fantastic careers that left us slack-jawed and wide-eyed.
(You’ve Got) “That Magic Touch”
When she sang it, she substituted our last name for the word “magic”. It made it our song.
This song tells the story of a bad woman with a beautiful face. The woman with the beautiful face was her of course. As for the rest, she was nothing but good.
We all asked for jars to catch moonbeams.
“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
The story or lesson here was you had better be nice to everyone.
“Sha boom Sha boom” (Life Could Be a Dream)
Mom called this the “happy song.” The first few bars are in a language we never understood, but were so fun to sing. Whenever I’m in a good mood I always sing this song.
“Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head”
This was the song she reserved for the days the dog ate our homework or we failed to make the basketball team.
As I sang along to Dem Bones, I wondered how many mothers today sing to their children − real songs with special meanings that their children can carry with them for the rest of their lives, the songs they will call on when they are happy or sad, scared or spellbound. The ones they will still hear even when she’s no longer around to sing them.
Photo: © iStockphoto.com/Necip Yanmaz
Cafe Girl Chronicles 
I love this blog….you forgot my favorite tune/song…”Oh when the Saints going marching on…”
Well Done, Cath!!!
You are the BEST!!!!
Consider it added!
I also remember “Michael rowed the boat ashore…”
Great times. I think of them often. I can close my eyes and see the old house on 73rd and mom singing to us.
Love ya.
Cooter
Joy to the World, Mike! We’re so lucky to have had that kind of childhood. And that house held a lot of magic for a lot of people. The cousins tell me they dream about it. As mom likes to say – love you more. Moosie.
Loved it! My mother sang to us all the time. I sang to my children all the time. Now I sing to my grandchildren all the time. We do all the usuals and anything veggie tales, but each of them have their own special song, made up just for them (esp. at night time). Unfortunately, my 21 mo granddaughter has a favorite: her brother’s song! Ah well, if it works it works. She sings it with me (the first to do so). Music opens so many worlds. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m so happy to hear that Ansuyo. It does my heart good to know that moms and grandma’s still sing to their children and grandchildren. And it’s wonderful that the grand kids have their own special song. I reckon when your granddaughter gets old enough, she’ll want her own song too. 🙂 So you still have a little time to think of the lyrics.