For Dad

by

My father died a year ago today. This is for him. Well, actually, it’s for me, because he can’t hear it.

I can’t seem to find  a copy of this video that will embed in the post, so you’ll need to click the picture to watch it on YouTube.

My Father’s Eyes

Sailing down behind the sun,
Waiting for my prince to come.
Praying for the healing rain
To restore my soul again.

Just a toerag * on the run.
How did I get here?
What have I done?
When will all my hopes arise?
How will I know him?
When I look in my father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.
When I look in my father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.

Then the light begins to shine
And I hear those ancient lullabies.
And as I watch this seedling grow,
Feel my heart start to overflow.

Where do I find the words to say?
How do I teach him?
What do we play?
Bit by bit, I’ve realized
That’s when I need them,
That’s when I need my father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.
That’s when I need my father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.

Then the jagged edge appears
Through the distant clouds of tears.
I’m like a bridge that was washed away;
My foundations were made of clay.

As my soul slides down to die.
How could I lose him?
What did I try?
Bit by bit, I’ve realized
That he was here with me;
I looked into my father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.
I looked into my father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.

My father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.
I looked into my father’s eyes.
My father’s eyes.

[*Toerag: is a British slang term for a bum (i.e. unpleasant person) who would be too poor to afford socks and thus would wrap cloth around their feet to keep themselves warm.

Clapton’s mother was 16 when she gave birth to him, from her union with a Canadian soldier who then went off to war, and later back to Canada.  Clapton was raised by his grandparents, thinking his mother was just his older sister. Clapton never knew or met his father, who lived in Canada, and died in 1985, never knowing that Clapton was his son.

The song is just not about his father, but about his son, Connor, who was killed at the age of 4 when he fell out of a window in Manhattan. I relate this to understand the song, not because it has any relevance to my father and I. ]

add to del.icio.usdel.icio.us Digg itreddit Stumble It!

5 thoughts on “For Dad”

  1. i’m very sorry for your loss, si. its a great song – a worthy song, if you will.

    i’ll raise a glass tonight for you and your pops.

  2. SI,

    Clapton’s mother was 16 when she gave birth to him, from her union with a Canadian soldier who then went off to war, and later back to Canada. Clapton was raised by his grandparents, thinking his mother was just his older sister. Clapton never knew or met his father, who lived in Canada, and died in 1985, never knowing that Clapton was his son.

    I never knew any of that about Clapton, but I do know losing family can be rough. All I can say is that I hope for your sake that you parted on good or at least decent terms, with nothing unspoken. IMO, one of the hardest things to deal with is knowing we should have said something to someone that’s passed on. That scares me.

  5. It’s a little late, but my thoughts are with you. Anniversaries are hard. Remembering sometimes by itself is hard. When I find that I’m forgetting it’s even harder. Keep remembering!

Comments are closed.