Teach Your Children Well : 50 Songs. 50 Lessons.
Alive - Empire of the Sun
“ Freedom is within you. Giving makes us feel good. �
You have the power to be free within. There is no thing as a selfless good deed.
Back Home - Andy Grammer
“ It don’t matter where we go, we always find our way back home. ”
Even if we leave the city when we are older or go far away from home, we always know that we can come home and that we are safe
Beautiful - Mali Music
" Many mighty ships are sinking Many stars are falling down And I count it as a blessing That you hold me up now. " When something terrible happens, we should look at it as a moment to be grateful for having the ones we love by our sides in times of hardship.
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell
“ You don't know what you've got ‘til it's gone. ”
Appreciate everything you have. It’s a lot.
Cameras - Matt and Kim
“ No time for cameras We'll use our eyes instead. ” We shouldn’t need to look at our phones for everything 24/7, but instead use our eyes. This allows us to really live in the moment and not have to stop and document everything- something both mom and dad constantly tell us when they ask us to put our phones away.
Cameron - Jillette Johnson
“ The world is full of aliens but you are a real life human. �
Do not judge people by their physical character but instead by the content of their Personaility.
Digital Witness - St.Vincent
“ If I can't show it, if you can't see me. ” “ What’s the point of even sleeping. ” Social media has greatly impacted our generation. If we don’t post something, it can feel like the world can’t “see” it, so what’s the point of sleeping at all if we can’t post about it? This is not the way we want to see the world - and that’s something you and mommy remind us about all the time!
Don’t Be Sad (Cause Your Sun Is Down) - James Taylor
“ Don't be sad when your sun is down. You can rise above it. ”
When we are down, we have the ability to rise above it and be happier people.
Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing - Stevie Wonder
“ Everybody needs a change, a chance at something new. ”
Sometimes, we need to change and try something new. and when we are given the chance of trying something new, we shouldn't let the chance go to waste - we should just go for it.
Doubt - Mary J. Blige
“ I’m gonna be the best of me. I can’t keep doubting myself anymore. ”
We all feel doubt - wonder if we are making the right choices, or living out the right dreams, but what’s truly most important is to just try to be the best version of yourself. Or as you used to sing to us: “We do the best we can to be the best that we can beeeeeee.”
Echoes - Dar Williams
“ Every time you love just a little Take one step closer, solving a riddle It echoes all over the world Every time you opt in to kindness Make one connection, used to divide us It echoes all over the world. �
Every little bit matters.
Falling - Haim
“ No ones gonna turn me round, just one more step I could let go. ”
Don’t let people bring you down or change you. Be resilient through life.
Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That) - Flight of the Concords
“ Feel inside (and stuff like that), Open up the lids. Help-help-help the kids. The kids need us to come together. We can make them better, we can get them some feta.”
These silly lines show how sometimes the smallest things can make someone feel better. Feta, a yummy cheese can make somebody feel better even though it’s a small treat.
Find You - Zedd, Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant
“ And if you lose yourself I will find you. �
When we throw tantrums, go to "crazy town," or lose control of ourselves, mom and dad will ALWAYS help us find our way back to "normal town".
For Good - Stephen Schwartz “ So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end I know you’ll have rewritten mine by being my friend.... ....Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better But because I knew you... I’ve been changed for good. ”
We are all better people because of you - to some extent who we are because of you. For good.
Golden- Jill Scott
“ I’m taking my freedom, putting it in my car. Wherever I choose to go, it will take me far. ”
Live life to its best and not abuse everything we have.
Gust of Wind - Pharrell
“ When I open the window, I wanna hug you. Cuz you remind me of the air. I say yeah. �
Air is a thing that is necessary in life, and Pharrell is comparing love to air - something he can’t live without. This reminds us that the simplest things in life are truly necessary.
Heal The Pain - George Michael
“ Be good to yourself Because nobody else Has the power to make you happy. �
Love yourself.
I Wanna Get Better - Bleachers
“ I didn’t know I was broken til I wanted to change. ”
This song shows the power of what you can do to be better and to change yourself.You can always find it within yourself.
I Was Here - Lady Antebellum “ I wanna do something that matters Say something different Something that sets the whole world on its ear I wanna do something better With the time I've been given And I wanna try To touch a few hearts in this life Leave nothing less Than something that says "I was here. � Leave it better than you found it.
If It’s Magic - Stevie Wonder
“ So... If it's magic... Why can't we make it everlasting Like the lifetime of the sun It will leave no heart undone For there's enough for everyone. ”
Infinite love. For everyone.
Illuminate - Mathew Koma and Afrojack
“ Scared of what they don’t know. Open up your window shades and illuminate. ”
Window shades can block sunlight - which can be perceived as a new day and/or a new idea. People are scared of the idea of what they don’t know, but this song teaches us the importance of opening those shades and letting the light IN.
In Your Shoes - Sarah Mclachlan “ You hold your head above the waves, Above the war they try to wage. You are stronger than their hate. ” Ride the waves, instead of going under and drowning in your worries and other people’s hate. Even though the big (and even little) waves can be scary, you have to just jump them and navigate the words - and the water. In war, you are often being pushed around by enemies. In life, you sometimes have to “dodge bullets,” as soldiers do to stay safe. Know you are stronger than anyone’s words or hate. We are more powerful than all the haters and the obstacles that come our way.
Just A Cloud Away - Pharrell
“ We all, of course, been there before. Been there cryin, fightin, the dark. Let good energy be your strong. �
Even though we have all been sad before or in a dark place, we should only let good energy and big smiles be our source of happiness.
Just Do You - India.Aire
“ If you don't take a chance you'll never know what's in store. ”
If you never try anything, from food to a game, you will never know what it’s like, and if you never take a chance at anything, you never get experience at anything, something you and mommy ALWAYS tell me.
Little By Little - Richie Havens
“ We’re in today, today If you believe that there is no other way Try living today, today Little by little, you’re on your own way. ”
The baby steps add up.
The Living Proof - Mary J. Blige
“ It's gonna be a long long journey It's gonna be an uphill climb It's gonna be a tough fight There's gonna be some lonely nights But I'm ready to carry on. �
Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in.
Love Makes The World - Carole King
“ There was trouble in my mind tonight. Something didn’t feel quite right. Then I saw your face in the moonlight. And I was right beside you”
Love can make you feel safe and OK.
Love Song - Elton John
“ Love is the key we must turn Truth is the flame we must burn Freedom the lesson we must learn. �
Truth and love enable freedom. For all.
Mother And Father - Broods “ Ever since I left my mother and father, it’s much harder to know how to make my own life and how to make my own home. ”
Starting out on our own when we are older could be hard - but we can always have a little bit of home, even when we are living in another house. It might be physical, like a book or shirt or even a memory or a quality, like our family’s love of music and movies, which we can share with the new people we encounter when we are older.
My One Sure Thing - Toby Lightman
“ Some days the tide's running too low They say water always find a place to go Low tide, I don't need anything All I know is, you're my one sure thing. �
Love is an anchor. Whatever the tide.
Perfect - PINK
“ Change the voices in your head. Make them like you instead. �
Instead of trying to be perfect, be ok with who you are instead. When I sometimes act crazy, instead of me apologizing, you always tell me to believe in who I really am....
Pierre - Carole King/Maurice Sendak
“ The lion said - If you would care To climb on me, I'll take you there Then everyone looked at Pierre Who shouted-Yes, indeed, I care! The lion took them home to rest And stayed on as a weekend guest The moral of Pierre is: CARE!. �
Caring matters.
Same Love - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis “ America the brave still fears what we don't know We become so numb to what we're saying A culture founded from oppression, It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment, the same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins. It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference! Live on and be yourself ” Differences scare people - gender, color, religion - and now gay rights. All different fights, they are really all just examples of the same larger fight, because human rights are every humans’ right - whether you are fighting for a seat at the counter or the right to marry who you love.
Secret O’ Life- James Taylor “ The secret of life Is enjoying the passage of time. Any fool can do it, There ain't nothing to it. Nobody knows how we got To the top of the hill. But since we're on our way down, We might as well enjoy the ride. ”
Nothing more to spell out. Enjoy the ride.
Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
“ I never miss a beat. I'm lighting up my feet. And that's what they don't see. That's what they don't see I'm dancing on my own. I make the moves as I go. And that's what they don't know. That's what they don't know. But I keep cruising, can't stop, won't stop grooving. It's like I got this music in my mind, saying it's gonna be alright. ” Move to the beat of your own drum, and know it’s ok to make it up as you go along. Listen to the music inside yourself and let that be your guide, your “gas.” You know when you are on the right track.
Shower The People - James Taylor
“ Shower the people you love with love. Show them the way that you feel. Things are gonna work out fine if you only will Shower the people you love with love. Show them the way you feel. Things are gonna be much better if you will. � Tell the people you love that you love them. It will make you and them feel better. In our family, we shower the people we love with love, and as a result, we are a happy family!
Somebody Loves You - Betty Who
“ Somebody misses you when you’re away. They wanna wake up with you everyday. Somebody wants to hear you say, ‘...ooh somebody loves you.’ ” Even if you’re not with someone at a particular moment, you ALWAYS know they love you.
Song of Bernadette - Leonard Cohen
“ We've been around, we fall, we fly We mostly fall, we mostly run. ”
We try. We fail. We succeed. Repeat.
Stay Young, Go Dancing - Death Cab For Cutie
“ Stay young, go dancing. ”
Let the music of life move you.
Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver
“ If I had a day that I could give you I'd give to you a day just like today If I had a song that I could sing for you I'd sing a song to make you feel this way. �
What you give us every day.
The End - The Beatles
“ And in the end, the love you take Is equal to the love you make. ”
You reap what you sow.
The Middle - Lauren Aliana
“ Take each day and make it last Cause you turn around and the future is the past Here and now is all we have The beginning and the end mean so little What matters most is what's in the middle. �
Make the most of every day. Live in the present.
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads “ Home - is where I want to be But I guess I'm already there I come home she lifted up her wings Guess that this must be the place I can't tell one from another Did I find you, or you find me? There was a time Before we were born If someone asks, this where I'll be . . . where I'll be. ” There’s no place like home. Never for money. Always for love.
Try - Colbie Calliat
“ You don’t have to try so hard. You don’t have to give it all away. You just have to get up get up get up get up. You don’t have to change a single thing. ”
You don’t need to try hard to be or look a certain way. We should always be ourselves.
Try - Colbie Caillat
“ Wait a second,why, should you care what they think of you? When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you? Do you like you? ”
Why should you try to be someone else because of what other people are and what they are saying? Why should you care? This is not you!!
Wake Up Everybody - John Legend
“ Wake up everybody No more sleepin' in bed No more backward thinkin' Time for thinkin' ahead. �
Think big. Think different. Think forward.
We All Try - Frank Ocean
“ I believe that marriage isn’t Between a man and a woman but between love and love. ”
If you don’t believe in gay marriage, don’t get gay married. Love is love. Period.
You Get What You Give - New Radicals
“ You've got the music in you - Don't let go You've got the music in you - One dance left This world is gonna pull through - Don't give up You've got a reason to live - Can't forget We only get what we give. ”
Everything you need to face a challenge or change is inside you. The music, the steps to dance. And there’s always something worth living for.You get back from life what you put into it.
You’ve Got A Friend - Carole King “ You just call out my name and you know wherever I am, I'll come running.... to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall, all you gotta do is call, And I’ll be there, yes, I will.You’ve got a friend. ”
A friend is someone who is always willing to listen and be there for you, and when you are a friend, you are there for other people in that way. Mommy and daddy always make sure we feel loved and that we always know they will be there for us when we need them - as parents and friends!