Song Lyric Sunday… I mean Wednesday

Helen’s prompt for Song Lyric Sunday the week before last was a song about the relationship between parent and child. I know I’m a bit late for the party here (as in, the party was over last week, the bottles have been taken to the recycling bank and the carpet has been steam-cleaned), but this prompt gave me so many ideas that I had to chip in!

The first song I thought of was Cat Stevens/ Yusuf Islam’s “Father and Son” which always makes me cry, but seeing as it’s such a classic, not surprisingly someone already posted that one. So I thought I’d taken the opportunity to bang on about another obscure but brilliant Bruce Springsteen album track – “Walk like a Man” from the 1987 album “Tunnel of Love”.

One critic said of Tunnel of Love that “you shouldn’t be allowed to listen to this album until you’ve been married a few years”, which is probably true. I bought it in 1987 (having worn out my audio cassette of Born in the USA) and never really rated it – but rediscovered it 20 years later and suddenly recognised so much of my own life/ relationships in it.  The album was released around the time of Springsteen’s short-lived first marriage, and although “Walk Like a Man” is describing his wedding, it’s actually a reflection on his relationship with his father. And it’s just awesome. Have a listen.

“Walk Like A Man”

I remember how rough your hand felt on mine
On my wedding day
And the tears cried on my shoulder
I couldn’t turn away
Well so much has happened to me
That I don’t understand
All I can think of is being five years old following behind you at the beach
Tracing your footprints in the sand
Trying to walk like a man

By Our Lady of the Roses
We lived in the shadow of the elms
I remember ma draggin’ me and my sister up the street to the church
Whenever she heard those wedding bells
Well would they ever look so happy again
The handsome groom and his bride
As they stepped into that long black limousine
For their mystery ride
Well tonight you step away from me
And alone at the altar I stand
And as I watch my bride coming down the aisle I pray
For the strength to walk like a man

Well now the years have gone and I’ve grown
From that seed you’ve sown
But I didn’t think there’d be so many steps
I’d have to learn on my own
Well I was young and I didn’t know what to do
When I saw your best steps stolen away from you
Now I’ll do what I can
I’ll walk like a man
And I’ll keep on walkin’

 

Lyrics and music by Bruce Springsteen, reproduced from A-ZLyrics.com

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