Folk Music & Football & Fathers & Sons

As I sat watching the Pittsburg Steelers get pounded by the Baltimore Colts, I was thinking about what brings fathers and sons together. I’ve always thought that baseball stories are the only topic that fathers and sons could discuss when politics and any personal matters just made all of us uncomfortable. In the sixties you never talked politics period. In my house, I have a 21 year old son who, like me, is a huge Cleveland Browns fan and also a fan of folk music. Tonight, he was playing some samples from a local band, Good M. Over the Rhine is playing in Akron Thursday night and we may find ourselves at that event, albeit going with our respected set of friends, but going nevertheless.

Folk music has the advantage over football in that it usually doesn’t spoil an afternoon like the Cleveland Browns often do and it’s nice to be able to compare tunes and artists. We may not always agree on how we define folk music, but it beats talking about feelings that guys do not dare touch. The music has always provided us with an opportunity to express ourselves with shared experiences and my boys are finally beginning to appreciate all of the concerts I have dragged them to over the years. Martin Sexton, CSN singing on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of May 4th, and countless folk festivals. It all adds up to some great shared experiences that will last a lifetime. Folk music has this effect, so share a game and a song, and count your blessings.