all ashore
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one afternoon in san francisco, i found myself on a picnic with a guy named brenden. we had followed each other on social media for some time, but never met face-to-face, so we agreed to meet for lunch and wine at golden gate park. i brought a speaker, and we spent the better part of the afternoon showing each other all sorts of music. as we were packing up, brenden looked at me and said, “are you aware that every song you showed me is about love?” i remember not believing him at first, but upon a review of the songs i had queued up, he was indeed correct.
i share this for a reason. you need to understand that we listened to music at golden gate park for hours, and all of the songs i happened to share were about love. in that moment, i learned i am somewhat of an expert on love songs…and all ashore by punch brothers is one of my favourite love songs, if not my absolute favourite.
this song describes true, realistic, genuine, and unconditional love in the most honest way by focusing on the work of being in love and staying in love. sung by the perspective of a child watching their parents move through life and their relationship, it touches on themes of resilience, unfulfilled promises, and the importance of showing up for one another despite the ever-present challenges that exist within love.
as i mentioned a few days ago, i was back in sugar land for my 10-year high school reunion and had the chance to catch up with my childhood friends and one of my best friend’s parents. we talked a lot about our innocence and naivety as children and how, as we’ve grown, we have come to realize just how difficult it can be to love, parent, and manage relationships and friendships. my appreciation for and understanding of my mum and dad’s relationship has only become deeper as i’ve gotten older, and i’ve come to adore the beautiful harmony that exists in their relationship not in spite of, but because of, their differences. witnessing their individual journeys and interdependence has been the gift of my life, and i’m forever indebted to them both for showing me how to nurture a relationship in the pursuit of understanding one another.
so this is my favourite love song because it describes the love i want in my life - a love that is different but complimentary, that is gentle and forgiving, that is honest and true, that is expansive and compatible, that is patient and kind, that is full and understood.
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“momma cuts through the morning like a man-of-war
daddy burns through diversions like a meteor
and so they use one another like a guiding star
and how i watch as they wonder where and what they are
i reflect like a troubadour
the ebb and flow of their hope and worry
in every verse of a living, breathing fairy tale
as momma rises and daddy sets
just like they have since the night i met them
i hear the clock tick, the wolf who loiters at the door
whatever else they decide to fight about and for
as i reflect, hope, and worry like a troubadour
oh, there's a lot to learn”
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source: nicholas semansky who invited me to see punch brothers play the fox theater in oakland in 2022. their show blew my mind…it gave me a much deeper appreciation for bluegrass, and led me to sign up for a zoom class series (shout out covid) led by one of the punch brothers and members of his other band, hawktail, to learn more about the music genre. the culture behind bluegrass and country music make my heart glow…porch strumming, sweet tea sipping, fire crackling, insect buzzing, full moon shinning…singing, love, i don’t need anymore than this.
