Some friends and I went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, way back in 1982, for a ski trip. And when we got there, we took a drive out into the surrounding mountains to see how the “locals” lived. If you’ve never been to that part of the country, I recommend it. Because the scenery is unusual, the history is interesting, and the sunsets are some of the best you’ll ever see. But something else we saw was inspiration for a line in my song, Keepin’ It Real, Baby.”
As we drove through the winding roads, a young dad and mom were out for a morning walk with their little tow-headed toddler. And as we got up close, we all noticed the almost perfectly round rosy cheeks on the little kid. The rosy glow was so round on his cheeks it almost looked like makeup had been applied. But it was just the brisk morning air on a light-skinned, healthy little boy.
And that memory has never left me.
Fast forward to the first few years of this century, and I added that memory to a song I wrote for one of the stores who carried my music for kids. I discovered they change location from when we were associated with them. But they’re still around.
Anyway…
I thought about ideas that relate to kids and keepin it real.
And so, I started the song with a line about that little boy in Santa Fe, “Got the rosy, round cheeks of red.” Then, I thought about how kids sort of become the center of the universe for parents. At least for a little while. But let’s keep it real, right. Even that little rosy cheeked center of the universe gets distracted by his mom’s purse.
After that, I pictured how parents painstakingly dress up those little dolls of theirs…only to watch ’em sit in the mud. Or spill their drinks and food. Or even worse, sit on, and smash, something that Grandma loves.
But, in the end, when we’re keepin’ it real, none of the troubles beats the joy of having little kids around. Right?
Yeah, lookin’ good is a piece of cake,
When there’s always time for a bathroom break.
Keepin it real baby… Keepin it real baby
© 2008 Tony Funderburk
Stay tuned,
Keep it Real and get your kid the Kiddin’ Around songbook today.