A Song About Dads & Daughters, 'Every Mistake'
Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 05:47PM by John Badalament This is a wonderful dad-daughter song written, performed and recorded by my best friend, Jonah Matranga (he is also the lead singer of the band Far)
Jonah wrote this song for his teenage daughter, Hannah; the two of them are featured in my documentary film, All Men Are Sons: Exploring The Legacy of Fatherhood. I owe them both a great debt of gratitude for allowing me to chronicle their relationship on video. We shot every month or so, over a period of years. Little do they know (until they read this blog) that the next installment of All Men Are Sons is only a year or so away...The plan is to revisit each of the five subjects in the film every 5 years. But that's a longer story...
Enjoy the song. Lyrics are pasted below...
(note: you will see two titles, then the screen goes to black, and the song continues)
Every Mistake
Oh my love, how can I say
The things that you'll see, some perfect way.
I could tell stories of infinite roads, fountains of youth, romantic fables...
But instead I'll just say it.
You're going to make every mistake.
Sometimes you're going to fall flat on your face.
So just do it with grace, know that I'll be there...
And love you while you make every mistake.
My sweetest of ones, you're growing up great.
Wide open heart, excellent eyes.
You're climbing and trying without even trying,
Without even knowing what I can't explain.
Like when did I get so scared of dying?
It never seemed real. We really leave here.
And stranger still, though it seems sad,
I'm trying to show you that something is here,
Something so sweet.
You're going to make every mistake.
Sometimes you're going to fall flat on your face.
So just do it with grace, know that I'll be there...
And love you while you make every mistake.
Of course I wish you all of the beauty,
A love rnever ending, a life without pain.
And when it seems hardest and there's no reasy answer,
Just try to trust me.
You're going to make every mistake.
Sometimes you're going to fall flat on your face.
So just do it with grace, know that I'll be there...
And love you while you make every mistake.
Reader Comments (2)
I love this! Jonah makes having a teenager seem like the special and amazing experience that it can be, given the right circumstances, and people. love and praise to you dads, Jen
hey jen - great to find you here! jonah is in my new book about dads coming out this spring, as is hannah. both his music and his words (from the interviews I did with him) are one in the same; honest, real, and inspiring. Having spent a great deal of time with jonah and hannah over the years (he was, as you may know, also featured in my documentary All Men Are Sons), I can say that he's the real deal. Perhaps more than any other dad I know, jonah has inspired me on so many levels (discipline, staying connected with hannah, developing a trusting bond with her, working with hannah's mom, etc.) When you throw in the fact that he continues to be a successful rocker with a busy touring life, he just might be up for dad of the year...Anyway, stay in touch and tell that husband (dad of the year himself) of yours I said hello...
john