Comments
Loading Dream Comments...
You must be logged in to write a comment - Log In
ArtistMy father always promised us we would live in France We'd go sailing on the Seine and I would learn to dance. We lived in Ohio then and he worked in the mines. On his streams like boats we knew we would sail in time. All my sisters soon were gone to Denver and Cheyenne, Marrying their grown-up dreams, the lilacs and the man. I stayed behind the youngest and only danced alone, The colors of my father's dreams faded without a sigh. And now I live in Paris and my children dance and dream, Hearing the story of a miner's life in words they never seen. I sail my memories abold like boats across the Seine, And I watch the Paris sun set in my father's eyes again. My father always promised us we would live in France We'd go sailing on the Seine and I would learn to dance.
https://youtu.be/GSBtvokNKZE
My Father (Melanie Safka, 1969) Cover
https://youtu.be/a60l8E1nXSA
My Father (Judy Collins,1968) Original
A vivid and intricate painted scene reminiscent of Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles, featuring elements of fantasy and allegory. The top left shows a classical white marble bust of a woman in profile against a dark background with industrial buildings and smoking chimneys, resembling a mining town or factory. Above this, clusters of purple lilac blossoms hang down.
In the upper middle and right, two stylized female figures, rendered in soft blues and pinks, float or ascend, holding hands and carrying bags, against a vibrant yellow and orange sky. They appear as ethereal guides or memories. Below them, a grand stone bridge with multiple arches spans a shimmering river that reflects the warm golden light of the sky. Streetlights illuminate the bridge and the buildings lining the far bank.
The river itself is a focal point, with a small steamboat carrying a man in a hat in the middle. The wake behind the boat and subtle rings on the water create a sense of movement. Further along the river, a group of four children in colorful clothes are seen splashing and dancing in the shallow water near the bank, their joy illuminated by a large, bright orange sun setting or rising in the background.
In the lower left, a woman with dark hair tied back gazes out over the entire scene.