SALUTE TO FATHERS PT.6 FINAL

[Mike Pell]

Before we commence Part 6, I want to correct one of my many mismouthings (WHAT?) from the last chapter.
Although I said TV Dads I meant Movie Dads for Gregory Peck.
And now, this is the Grand Finale.
I counted the number of songs left over that we did not get to play. 17 songs went unplayed!
Even after 6 of these episodes!
I wanted to do segments on Good Fathers, Bad Fathers and Fathers I Wasn’t Sure About.
Well, they took the biggest hit in the left out department.
We did get to 2 Bads and 1 Good though, and they open up this chapter.
After that, pulling no punches, for it would not be honest to ignore it after having come this far- DEATH.
It is the natural order of things that parents die before their children.
As sad as that may be, it is even sadder when it is the other way around.
And even your parents would admit to that!
I think it was a Greek philosopher who first said that you are never a man until your father dies.
But just in case, here is an OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER.
WARNING: IF YOU ARE FEELING EMOTIONALLY FRAGILE OR VULNERABLE, YOU MAY WANT TO SKIP THIS EPISODE.
This part contains the Unresolved Issues- the unfulfilled or unfinished business between Father and Child, and Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda’s that can be very emotional.
If you feel you cannot handle it, see above.
But most of us are realistic and emotionally settled enough to accept this.
Some lyrics from a big hit song you will hear:
“I wasn’t there that morning
When my father passed away
I didn’t get to tell him
All the things I had to say.”
That is the first of the final 3 songs.
And the last song, well I have learned over the years that there is NOTHING- nada, zilch, zip, etc.- that can follow it.
So it must be the last song to end the series!
It is my deepest wish that those of you who came along for the entire journey had an interesting, sometimes bumpy ride but always fun.
It is strange, but even the sad parts of this series can somehow fill a need.
It is as if we want to do this to ourselves- it hurts but fills a hole. That’s the way I feel anyway.
To all, thank you for listening.
We will be taking more of these thematic trips together.

Here's the link to our final word on Fathers for now, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/2032

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

You bet. Feel better bro.

[Mike Pell]

RJ,

You got it brother, not confused at all- you can tell the older shows by the theme music.

Papa Was A Rolling Stone, well all of us charming rogues can recognize each other, lol!
Cats In The Cradle is a classic Bad Father song, and nice call on your part that I would eventually play it.

Didn't know it affected you so deeply, but I said I was going to touch people in the series.
For the dying, In The Living Years really says it, just a great song all around!
And how about that, did you know David Gates wrote Everything I Own for his dead father, and it is not at all a love song?
But NOTHING approaches that last one by Steve Goodman for silencing power!

Thanks by the way, I got your songs but haven't had a chance to play them yet.

Just don't feel right- stressed out to the max!

Right now I can't even imagine doing a Fathers or Mothers Day show next year...but who knows?
Time will tell, lol!
Thanks as always for the listen and the writing pal,

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

Mike, all in all a very nice series.  One question about it, is this an older show of yours?  I thought it was new, but it seems like these last 2 parts used the old intro music.  Maybe I'm just confused.

 

I always like the song Papa Was A Rolling Stone.  Just something about the way they sing it.

 

I new Cat's In The Cradle would find a place here somewhere.  I must say that to me, it's the greatest song ever written about that Father/Son thing.  It seems like many Dads always say, maybe a little later.  But how it comes home to roost when Son turns out to be just like Father.  Just one of the saddest things in the world to me. 

 

I really love the song In The Living Years.  Just beautiful lyrically and musically.

 

The song you ended with is one I've never heard.  It's very fitting, although I've gotta get you that song My Father's Chair in case you need some more songs next year.  That's the good thing about Fathers Day and Mothers Day, they roll around every year, so you can play all those left-over songs.