Plaintive paeans to prog progeny

[rickawakeman]

Almost cried listening to Peter Hammill's "once You Called Me" ("Clutch") this morning, thinking of my daughter's upcoming wedding.


"I wish that I remembered better. You've grown so fast before my very eyes. The woman that you're now becoming suddenly takes me by surprise. I thought that there'd be time and tide a-plenty to grow into a proper fatherhood but underneath our feet the sands were shifting. You spread your wings, soon you'll be gone from me for good. And when I tucked you in at night and swore I'd always love you madly I'd wonder would this be the last time that you'd ever call me "Daddy"?
A bittersweetnes runs through every memory: a daughter's father wants to be so strong, then suddenly he's just an ancient relic. You spread your wings, you weren't a little girl for very long. And if trouble's on its way you know I'd lay my life down for you gladly. I only wish that I could still remember the last time that you called me "Daddy". Once you called me "Daddy". Oh, my precious girl."

Reminded me of some other poignant songs by prog dads written to their daughters.

Fish's "Tara" (from "Sunsets On Empire"):

"I want to be there in the morning, I want to wake up by your side.
If I can make it back I'll be there, if I can catch the early flight.
I'll bring you dragon's teeth from silver beaches, shells from Africa.
I'll give you China dolls and silken shawls, orchids for your hair,
treasures drowned in sunken galleons, jewels from desert caves
when I get there.
We'll see each other in the morning when the sun comes up
We'll see each other in the morning when the sun comes up
in the morning, in the morning

I'll guard you from the monsters on the tv, from the pirates
in the corners of your dreams. I'll keep you from the cold
and safe from trolls from the bad men while you play.
I'll hunt for crocodiles and snakes with smiles I'll keep them
far away from your innocence in all its wonder.
We'll see each other in the morning when the sun comes up
We'll see each other in the morning when the sun comes up
in the morning, in the morning, when the sun comes up"

Also love Nick Beggs' Father Daughter from the first Mute Gods album.

Other examples?

[Buddhabreath]

PH certainly has a way of tugging at the heartstrings. I don't have an example off the top of my head but Hammill's Wilhelmina from Silent Corner comes to mind - a touching song to a little girl about the vicissitudes of life, and he anticipated the empty nest syndrome with Autumn from the Over album. With one kid in college and another starting in the fall that one really hits home. All captain obvious picks for the typical Hammilloid.

It's not easy being and old fart and watch your babies walk away. Enjoy the wedding!

[rickawakeman]

Kate Bush's "Bertie":
Here comes the sunshine
Here comes that son of mine
Here comes the everything
Here's a song and a song for him
Sweet kisses
Three wishes
Lovely bertie
The most willful
The most beautiful
The most truly fantastic smile
I've ever seen
Sweet kisses
Three wishes
Lovely bertie
You bring me so much joy
And then you bring me
More joy"

Neal Morse's "Jayda":
The sun crossed a field to a pale gray
Time was torn apart
The doctor said things weren't all okay
She was born with a broken heart
Jayda
a song to my soul
Jayda
Your daddy's here he'll never let you go
There was nothing to do, but just sit and wait
Will she make it through today?
My wife laid our baby at heaven's gate
And gave her heart, in trade
Crying Jayda
Lord make her whole
But Jayda
Your mommy knows she has to let you go
The testers kept testing for very long
With no word to console
They searched and they searched
But found nothing wrong
'Cause they couldn't find the hole
Jayda
a song to my soul
Oh Jayda
the Father's come and he has healed you
Jayda
it's not time to go
Oh Jayda
the father's come
and he has made you whole"

[proggy_jazzer]

I think Mike Keneally's "I'm Afraid" from Sluggo would certainly qualify. A beautiful melody delivered perfectly, and as a big fan of contrasts between adjacent tracks I think it's a perfect antidote to the darkness of "Own", which precedes it.

[kenschwartz]

let's not forget another hammill track: 'sleep now' from 'and close as this'

and on the lighter side, and another "peter" - there is blegvad's wonderful 'daughter' (i'm not saying his daughter is wonder...she might be...i don't know. but the song is wonderful).