Blackbird

I used to babysit for two kids five days a week. Their mom worked second shift, so I fed them dinner and put them to bed most nights.

Something I remember from my own childhood is staying at my grandparents' house and having my Nana put me to bed. She always sang me a bedtime song, I think to get me to stop talking and chill, but I remember it very well. In fact, it was so formative that when she passed away I got some of the lyrics tattooed on my foot.

So for my two year old charge, I sang Blackbird. Eventually she started singing along. "Backbir, fwy...in da...night." And for her older brother, I sang some early Bright Eyes song..."close your eyes, the dark outside can't hurt you..."

Whenever Blackbird comes up on my ipod, I can't help wondering were those kids are now. Their mom got re-married and they moved God knows where. But I wonder, perhaps too nostalgically, if someday they'll hear those songs and try to figure out why they sound familiar.