My grandson turned 2 this week, and the entire family is gathering tomorrow for a birthday party for him. Since my youngest daughter and I share a birthday next week, we're planning a back-to-back birthday celebration; afternoon for the little guy and evening for those of us he calls "Pa-pa" and "Ant Inz." Good food, good fun, good times.
Why do we celebrate birthdays? It's like we're being honored for something we had no control over, something we didn't cause to happen. We just showed up. Why don't we instead celebrate those who were responsible for our birth?
Some think a birthday is an opportunity to celebrate the gift of life. We know, of course, that this particular gift varies in terms of how long, how hard, and how fulfilling life might be.
Maybe we celebrate birthdays because, if only for one day, the "me" that once wasn't, now is, and someday won't be again can be acknowledged, cared about, and valued. And one of the ways we celebrate is through music.
I'm sure my 2 year old grandson has heard the "Happy Birthday" song many times already, and I'm sure he'll realize tomorrow that we're singing it to and about him. Did you know that this song was written in 1893 by two sisters -- one an elementary school teacher and one a pianist? The original title of the song is "Good Morning To You," with a melody easily mastered by children. The lyrics of "Happy Birthday to You" were added by 1912, although the song wasn't copyrighted until 1935. Technically, we're supposed to pay royalties for public performances of the song, but I'm guessing more often than not this doesn't happen.
The Beatles' song, "Birthday" may someday rival "Happy Birthday to You," but you may not be aware that before the Beatles recorded their song on the White Album, they whipped out a version of the old song.
Contrast that with the 1968 "Birthday." Wouldn't you rather be going to a party-party? And since my daughter and I share the same birthday, the lyrics, "Yes, it's my birthday too, yeah," has special significance at our house. This version is done by Paul McCartney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjF1bG5LUcs
I spent my 33rd birthday in the maternity ward of St. Mary's Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, waiting to meet my third daughter. The nurses thoughtfully brought me a cupcake after she was born. Since it was the only thing I ate that day, it was both symbolic and delicious. My daughter has graciously shared her birthday with me, every year for the past 25 years. WE call each other "birthday buddies."
There are several birthday-themed songs out there from 50s crooners to 90s rap and beyond. One of my favorites doesn't even include the word "birthday," but it captures the agelessness of childhood, wonder, and the awe of living. Here is the Band singing Bob Dylan's "Forever Young."
Paul Simon, in "Have A Good Time," sang, "Yesterday, it was my birthday; I hung one more year on the vine. I should be depressed, my life is a mess, but I'm havin' a good time..." To everything there is a season, someone wrote a long time ago. Birthdays are one of those times that we can, if we choose, forget about past regrets and future fears, and take a moment to thank those who bless our lives with their birthday "presence." Happy birthday, grandson. Happy birthday, daughter. Happy birthday, me.
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