A Baby Song...A Love Song

Did you ever hear a song that you've heard a million times and suddenly realize that it's actually ABOUT something?

Back when I made that futile attempt to breastfeed (for which I thank god daily that it never worked out)I had a play list called Pumping Mix.

For obvious reasons.

In theory it was supposed to relax me whilst I allowed the Medela Symphony to do it's wild magic. Shortly after it was renamed the Feeding Mix. Now it's Ellie's Soothing Mix. Most of the songs I hand selected but a few I gathered off Doug's system, after sorting by Genre. Labeled as Folk, I liked the melody and added it. I inevitably skipped over it.

Until Wednesday. While Ellie was napping, I was typing, her mix playing in the background. And I heard the lines:

You'll fly away
but take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done, you'll be the one who knows...

I had always assumed the song was about a break-up, or at a minimum a beginning. Trite folk angst. Like poor Jewel singing about her cup of coffee for one. Blah blah blah. Meloncholy whine.

It sounds, I thought, like it could be about a baby.

type type...www.google.com "Dar Williams The One Who Knows Lyrics Meaning"

aha!

So if you can find it, listen to it.

Time it was I had a dream
And you're the dream come true
And if I had the world to give
I'd give it all to you.
I'll take you to the mountains
I will take you to the sea
I'll show you how this life became
A miracle to me.

You'll fly away
but take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done, you'll be the one who knows.

All the things you treasure most
Will be the hardest one
I will watch you struggle on
For the answers come
But I won't make it harder
I'll be there to cheer you up
I'll shine the light that guides you down
The road you're walking on

You'll fly away
but take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done, you'll be the one who knows.

Before the mountains call to you
Before you leave this home
When I teach your heart to trust
As I will teach my own
But sometimes I will ask the moon
Where it shined upon you last
And shake my head and let me say
It all went by so fast

You'll fly away
but take my hand until that day
So when they ask how far love goes
When my job's done, you'll be the one who knows.