A few years ago three boys were all born within a month or two to various members of my family. It put me in mind of when my own son was born, and that feeling we had of starting an adventure together.
The song was written around the line “like an unwritten label on a jar full of unwritten plans,” which I rather like.
Cradle Song (for Taylor, Aaron and Andrew) ©2000 Dave Hadfield
There you are, asleep in the cradle
That I joined and built,
With my own 2 hands.
All the world’s an unwritten label on a jar full,
Of unwritten plans.
You don’t know how I’m longing to see, [chorus]
What kind of man you will be.
But now I could keep just watching you sleep,
While everything changes for me.
There you are, asleep in the covers
and here, for now,
You don’t make a sound.
But if you do we (who once were just lovers)
Will come to the rescue, charging around.
And I know this time won’t last.
Your world is all so vast.
One speed, and that’s full blast.
Grow strong, but not too fast
Here we are father and mother and I wish I knew,
Much more than I do,
Starting out (a time like no other), but we’re ready to learn,
The lessons with you.
There you are, asleep in the cradle and we see you changing day by day,
So we’ll try (as much as we’re able) to gather this moment,
And lock it away…….