I’m Gonna Be Your Friend

The other day AJH was supposed to be taking her morning nap while I was getting ready for the day. She didn’t want to settle down and kept fussing in her crib so I stopped brushing my teeth to go check on her. I had just downloaded the B is for Bob compilation of Bob Marley songs in “kid form” for her Ipod and right as I walked in “High Tide or Low Tide” came on. I remember I used to love that song but hadn’t heard it in years. It was another I-god moment. I started singing it to her and she immediately got the biggest smile on her face. The more my pitchy, tone-deaf self sang along to his raw, young melody the more she kicked and cooed and grinned.

Ahhhh. 

It brought tears to my eyes. 
For the first time I actually listened to the words. 
And meant every one of them.
In high seas or in low seas
I’m gonna be your friend,
I’m gonna be your friend.
In high tide or in low tide,
I’ll be by your side,
I’ll be by your side.

(I heard her praying, praying, praying)
I said, I heard my mother,
She was praying in the night (praying, praying, praying)
And the words that she said (the words that she said),
They still linger in my head (lingers in my head),
She said, “A child is born in this world,
He needs protection,
God, guide and protect us,
When we’re wrong, please correct us.
(when we’re wrong, correct us).
And stand by me”

In high seas or in low seas,
I’m gonna be your friend,
He said, “I’m gonna be your friend.”
And, baby, in high tide or low tide,
I’ll be by your side,
I’ll be by your side.

I said I heard my mother,
She was crying’ (I heard her crying’) in the night (crying’, crying’),
And the tears that she shed (the tears that she shed)
They still linger in my head (lingers in my head)

She said: “A child is born in this world,
He needs protection,
God, guide and protect us,
When we’re wrong, (when we’re wrong), correct us.

And in high seas or low seas,
I’m gonna be your friend,
I’m gonna be your friend.
Said, high tide or low tide,
I’ll be by your side,
I’ll be by your side.

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