My Gen X Playlist: Ode to My Family – The Cranberries

One day I noticed a coworker looking really sad. She was a single parent and her only son recently left for his first year at college. She missed him terribly. The night before, she called him and he sent her to voicemail. Yeah, that’s tough. Having been in his shoes, I explained to her this was normal behavior for a young man off on his own for the very first time. This season of his life was about independence, discovering who he was. Eventually, after experiencing the ebbs and flows of life, he would gain a deeper appreciation for family. And…he would begin calling her, instead of the other way around. “You just have to be patient and weather the storm”, I said. She looked at me with wide hopeful eyes and asked, “Do you promise?” I guaranteed it.

When I was young and naive, I didn’t have an appreciation for my parent’s hard work and sacrifice. It was not until I had to navigate life on my own did I truly understand. Even now, I still receive a deeper perspective of my parent’s love as I move through different seasons of my life. I’m fortunate that I was able realize this before it was too late. Through interviews, Delores O’Riordan of The Cranberries discussed Ode to My Family.

On No Need to Argue, “there’s […} songs like Ode to My Family which isn’t very rock and roll. It’s about my parents growing up in Limerick.” She added: “Ode to My Family is a paean to the simple old days and the warmth and security of family life.”

“You know who really gets this song? People who’ve lost their parents. It breaks their heart listening to that song, ‘cos they go, Why didn’t I tell them when they were alive?”

– Cranberries World

With each day, I’m reminded how quickly time passes. Each day, week, month, year – they fly by at the snap of a finger. It’s easy to be consumed with our busy lives that we forget to call the ones that are truly important – friends and family. It only takes a moment to pick up the phone. It will be worth it.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Understand the things I say
Don't turn away from me
'Cause I've spent half my life out there
You wouldn't disagree

Do you see me? Do you see?
Do you like me?
Do you like me standing there?
Do you notice? Do you know?
Do you see me?
Do you see me? Does anyone care?

Unhappiness
Where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun
And take it if we can

My mother, my mother
She hold me, she hold me
When I was out there
My father, my father
He liked me, oh, he liked me
Does anyone care?

Understand what I've become
It wasn't my design
And people everywhere think something
Better than I am

But I miss you, I miss
'Cause I liked it
'Cause I liked it when I was out there
Do you know this? Do you know
You did not find me?
You did not find. Does anyone care?

Unhappiness
Where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as fun
And take it if we can

My mother, my mother
She hold me, she hold me
When I was out there
My father, my father
He liked me, oh, he liked me
Does anyone care?

Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?
Does anyone care?