On March 18, 2020, Headnod reached out to me to see if I wanted to write something about the state of the world.
As I write these words, citizens of the U.S. have been told to self quarantine and practice social distancing, and in other parts of the world, people have been faced with even stricter social restrictions to try and prevent further spread of the Coronavirus. Varied as we are, humans have responded in a multitude of ways, but the one emotion tying us all together in this moment of crisis is the ever powerful feeling of fear. Fear of the uncertain. Fear of the unseen. Fear transcends culture, language and borders. For those of us who are parents, the fear extends beyond our own futures, as we worry about the many problems the next generation will be forced to face. But as parents, we have no other choice but to face that fear head on with hope, try to focus on the beauty of every moment, no matter how uncertain we may feel, and to fill up their days with as much love as possible. When Headnod reached out to me about collaborating on a piece about the state of the world, I was ready, but when he told me he needed to hear the voice of optimism, my heart went out to him, both as a brother and as a fellow father. I imagine we need a dose of optimism right now. I wrote "Fly" as a response to his message, and to the rest of the world, as a reminder that hope and love is what gives our children, and gives us all, the wings we need to fly above any crisis thrown our way. I hope it brings a ray of hope into your home when you play it.
Don’t waste a second of it
I know it’s heavy in the moment but we’ll rise above it. Turn off the news and the social media just unplug it ‘cause all it’s gonna do is make you wanna say fuck it. Just focus where the love is!
Don’t waste a second of it
I know it’s heavy in the moment but we’ll rise above it. Turn off the news and the social media just unplug it ‘cause what we need to do is simply focus where the love is.
The love is...
(2nd verse)
The love is in the eyes of your child
the way they shine like only freedom does
when they’re young and running wild.
The love
is in the sound of their laughter
sung like a song from the heavens
you’re gonna wish you could remember every second. The love
you find it in the person who you blessed to be with the one you share your life with and all of your secrets. The love is in your family
both blood and chosen
relationships over distances with bonds unbroken. Focus on the beauty in life
though it’s interwoven with strife
and every day feels like a roll of the dice
with leeches bleeding the planet like they’re not knowing the price
but everything can change for the better when the moment’s precise.
So hold tight
remember life
rotates in phases
and sometimes we find God in some-of-the-least expected places.
And it’s darkest before sun up
so go on and pick your son up
tell you love him
and why
you’re teaching him how to fly...
credits
released March 22, 2020
Words: Rico Pabón
Music: Headnodic
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