I had an idea.
I’ve been working on mixing the new children’s cd, BIG KID. But I realized I needed a song from children to their parents…a song idea was born…(it could also apply for partners in a relationship…)
The song is called “Look At Me”. Here are the lyrics:
Put down the paper…hang up the phone
Please see me as more than a dog that you throw a bone
Let’s go for a walk…yea, let’s go outside
No, I don’t want to hop in the car and go for a ride
I need a genuine encounter…of the first degree
I need you to stop what you’re doing and look at me…
Look at me…
Look at me look at me look at me look at me look at me look at me look at me… NOW!
You’re awfully busy…You’ve got things to do
Just give me a moment of time…with you
I’ve got all these ideas…I want you to see
There’s a person who’s growing up…inside of me
I need your full attention…and I deserve it, too!
I’m somebody important…I’m a part of you…a part of you….
Look at me look at me look at me look at me look at me look at me look at me… NOW!
Please don’t be angry…I’m just a kid
I’m only doing the things that you once did…
I asked Lily (my six year old) if she would be willing to sing it on the new record. So, Sunday afternoon, she came in…and she sang the song.
Let me just say that in my thirty years of making music, I have many amazing memories. Moments that make me laugh, moments that make me cry. This was a moment where I was crying with a love so profound…listening to Lily’s sweet, lilting voice exclaim these words was almost too much. To hear a child speaking out for children everywhere…through music…well, when you hear it, I hope you have the same chills of empathy that I experienced.
One of the other amazing aspects was that Lily practiced and practiced. She learned all the subtle nuances I had made on the tape for her…and during the recording, she got the entire song in about twenty or thirty minutes. At one point,
the part at the end seemed to overwhelm her…I was sitting next to her out in the
main room, both of us wearing headphones, and I asked Marty, our beloved engineer and friend, to turn off the mic so Lily and I could have a moment of privacy. I asked her what was troubling her…We talked about her throat. She said it was hurting…So, I said, “Let’s stop, then. I don’t want you to be in pain.”
She shook her head, and through a few tears said, “But you won’t have the end of the song.” I told her I didn’t care about the song, I cared about her, and I only wanted this to be something she enjoyed…She replied, “I can do this. Let me do it.” I asked, “Are you sure? You don’t have to…” She said, “No, I want to do it for the children…and the money!” Ha ha ha. So she nailed it first try…and we were done. (We drank lots and lots of water to hydrate ourselves…Marty is always good to see that we have fresh glasses of water next to us in the studio…)
While she and her pal, Clara, were drawing whales and dolphins and various sea creatures, Marty and I finished up the song. I put down accompanying harmonies and an organ part to flush out the guitar.
meg
says:hey, i just got the cd and have been listening to this song over and over…i feel as if i, a teenager, can relate to this more than what people think…it seems as if people have this idea that once we become a teen we want all this independence…we do, but we also don’t want to be forgotten about…so no matter what we say, we want you to be involved in our lives and we want to be reminded that we matter…i hope im not just speaking for me, but for most teens out there! thanks for making this…its easier to acknowledge and identify with instead of us having to verbalize ourselves…you rock!!!
*meg
Eternal Sea
says:Sara!
Thank you so much for writing back!!!You made my day!!!Let me tell you more
about our fan club…..its called Necessary Angels…..and we meet at a
local Borders Books and Music store….I started the fan club in July of
2000 so we just celebrated our 3 year anniversary and since then more and
more fans some old and new have joined!Its alot of fun…..we talk about how
your music has had an impact on our lives and what songs mean the most to
us.I hope soon to start expanding the fan club into other places.
I cannot wait until your new cd’s…especially the live one.and yes a
running journal is a wonderful idea!!!It would be great if you could send a
letter to our fan club.
Sara you are an inspiration!
Keep Rockin’!
Tom
Pumpkin Princess
says:Tom, please email me about your fan club. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Eternal Sea
says:Hi Sara!!
its me Tom!The one who wrote you not too long ago….I live in Tucson,Arizona and I told you that I have a fan club dedicated to you.I cannot wait for the two new cd’s that are coming out soon!I recently did some searching for you on the internet and this one website said that you are planning on releasing a dvd this Christmas.Is that true?I can give you the link if you want.
well take care
peace and love
Tom
Greg D
says:That is an incredibly moving story. I can only imagine how moving it will be to actually hear the song, especially when I know the story behind it.
Truly a Blessing,
Greg, #002