I tried to explain to my husband way-back-when that I was a goody two shoes when I was young, and by that I don’t mean I was perfect (I was a bossy tattletale, if you must know!).  I mean that the way I perceived the world was drastically different than my friends’, as must be the case with some children.  We parents coddle them (a bit) and save the hard-knock lessons for later in life, when they’re better able to understand that everyone in their world didn’t step off a Sesame Street set.

Except that I didn’t even have Sesame Street growing up.  Which isn’t a bad thing.  It’s just what was–no TV.

It wasn’t until I had Dan listen to a tape of all of us kids (let’s see, there were six of us at the time…) recording a lengthy message to our grandparents that Dan really understood.

This is how it went down.  Each of us kids had to say something (about school, about what we were up to).  Those of us playing musical instruments might play a piece or two.

My turn came last, since I was the oldest.  I must have been in sixth grade, 10 years old.  Guess what I said?

I said, “We’re just praising Jesus and praying all the day long.”

Yes, it’s sweet, but it’s also horrifying, looking back on it now.  What exactly did I understand about what I’d just said?  Obviously, I was parroting something I’d heard somewhere, but at the same time, I was being genuine, and would have been embarrassed had someone called me out on it.

So, you see my problem–maybe (maybe you don’t)–with those reams of CDs and gospel songs for kids, usually sung by five-, six-, seven-year-old kids who don’t know the first thing about what they’re singing.

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to be spouting off words you don’t understand.  How else does one learn?  [Mantras, liturgy–call them what you will.]  I just think it’s sad that so much emphasis is placed on Christian songs or Christian idioms (whatever Christian means in this context).  I call it church speak–the kind of talk that no one outside the church would understand…or appreciate.

Why not have songs that mirror a larger culture and incorporate truths into them?  Why not weave in the experience of God or truth or love into everyday songs, rather than beating our children over the head with commandments?

It’s a matter of taste, I’m sure, and I know that not everyone agrees with me.

I’ve found a partial solution, I think.  Matthew, Elizabeth, and Zoë, the singers for Butterflyfish, all parents themselves, got together and put together this fabulous CD, reminiscent of Elizabeth Mitchell or Frances England (for the adult crowd: O Brother, Where Art Thou?).  But here, let me have them tell you how it all happened:

“Butterflyfish began with a watermelon picnic. While the kids ate and played, the grown-ups got to talking about music, about faith, and about how best to pass on and enjoy the old, old stories in beautiful new ways.

“Like many parents, we knew that our kids were connected spiritually with the world, but we couldn’t find much music to help them deepen and develop that connection. And so we started to write songs, and sing them together in our living room – and after too many picnics to count, Butterflyfish was born, butterflies and fish being two of the most ancient, delightful symbols of Christianity.

“But before long, we realized we weren’t just writing songs for our kids. We were also writing for ourselves, and for people of every age looking for ways to strengthen those same spiritual connections and engage those same stories.”

What kind of music is it?

“Butterflyfish is a rootsy blend of American folk, gospel, blues, country, and bluegrass, cooked down and spiced up into fresh takes on the spiritual themes so characteristic of old American music.”

Upbeat and soulful, I highly recommend it.  You can listen to part of each song here.  Liliana and I have been listening to it all week.

They’ve even provided Butterflyfish coloring pages–6 of them!–which you can access here.

And if you’re a parent who wants your child to have a spiritual connection without God or Jesus, then the tracks are also available singly.  You can pick and choose.  Not a problem.

Now pardon me.  Liliana and I have a dancing (and singing) date.